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BMC Urology
Published in: BMC Urology 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Prostate Cancer | Research article

The metabolic role of PFKFB4 in androgen-independent growth in vitro and PFKFB4 expression in human prostate cancer tissue

Authors: Ximing Li, Zhi Chen, Zuan Li, Guihai Huang, Junhao Lin, Qiang Wei, Jianbo Liang, Wei Li

Published in: BMC Urology | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

It is well known that androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) can inevitably drive prostate cancer (PCa) cells into a castration-resistant state. According to the “Warburg effect”, the metabolism of aggressive tumor cells increases significantly. The growth of cancer cells depends on glycolysis, which may be a potential target for cancer control. 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4) plays key roles in the proliferation and metastasis of PCa cells. However, there is very limited knowledge on the role of PFKFB4 in the conversion to castration resistance. The present study aimed to determine the changes in glucose consumption and PFKFB4 expression in LNCaP cells and androgen-independent LNCaP (LNCaP-AI) cells during the whole process of androgen-independent growth. Additionally, PFKFB4 expression in human PCa tissues was evaluated.

Methods

We established an androgen-independent LNCaP-AI cell line derived from LNCaP cells to mimic the traits of castration resistance in vitro. LNCaP-AI and LNCaP cells were cultured in the corresponding medium containing the same amount of glucose. At the end of experiments, the medium supernatant and blank medium were collected, and absorbance was measured. LNCaP-AI and LNCaP cells were harvested to detect PFKFB4 expression by Western blotting. Prostate tissue samples including PCa tissue, carcinoma-adjacent tissue and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue specimens were evaluated for PFKFB4 expression using immunohistochemistry.

Results

In 18 h supernatant samples, the glucose consumption and lactate secretion of LNCaP-AI cells were higher than those of LNCaP cells. The Western blot results indicated that PFKFB4 expression was increased in LNCaP-AI cells compared with LNCaP cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of PFKFB4 in PCa tissue specimens was higher than that in BPH and adjacent tissue specimens. However, the differences in PCa tissue before and after ADT were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

PFKFB4 may be associated with enhanced glycolysis during the androgen-independent growth of PCa cells in vitro. PFKFB4 may be a marker of PCa progression. Our results provide a rationale for further clinical investigation of PCa treatment focused on controlling PFKFB4 expression.
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Metadata
Title
The metabolic role of PFKFB4 in androgen-independent growth in vitro and PFKFB4 expression in human prostate cancer tissue
Authors
Ximing Li
Zhi Chen
Zuan Li
Guihai Huang
Junhao Lin
Qiang Wei
Jianbo Liang
Wei Li
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Urology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2490
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-020-00635-0

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