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American Association for Cancer Research, Molecular Cancer Research, 6(17), p. 1235-1240, 2019

DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1101

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Whole-Genome and Transcriptional Analysis of Treatment-Emergent Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer Demonstrates Intraclass Heterogeneity

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Abstract Therapeutic resistance in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) can be accompanied by treatment-emergent small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (t-SCNC), a morphologically distinct subtype. We performed integrative whole-genome and -transcriptome analysis of mCRPC tumor biopsies including paired biopsies after progression, and multiple samples from the same individual. t-SCNC was significantly less likely to have amplification of AR or an intergenic AR-enhancer locus, and demonstrated lower expression of AR and its downstream transcriptional targets. Genomic and transcriptional hallmarks of t-SCNC included biallelic loss of RB1, elevated expression levels of CDKN2A and E2F1, and loss of expression of the AR and AR-responsive genes including TMPRSS2 and NKX3-1. We identified three tumors that converted from adenocarcinoma to t-SCNC and demonstrate spatial and temporal intrapatient heterogeneity of metastatic tumors harboring adenocarcinoma, t-SCNC, or mixed expression phenotypes, with implications for treatment strategies in which dual targeting of adenocarcinoma and t-SCNC phenotypes may be necessary. Implications: The t-SCNC phenotype is characterized by lack of AR enhancer gain and loss of RB1 function, and demonstrates both interindividual and intraindividual heterogeneity. Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/17/6/1235/F1.large.jpg.