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The expression of YAP1 is increased in high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma but is reduced in neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 23, pages 661–669 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

After long-term androgen deprivation therapy, 25–30% prostate cancer (PCa) acquires an aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype. Dysregulation of YAP1, a key transcription coactivator of the Hippo pathway, has been related to cancer progression. However, its role in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) has not been assessed.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to evaluate YAP1 expression levels during PCa initiation and progression.

Results

YAP1 expression was present in the basal epithelial cells in benign prostatic tissues, lost in low-grade PCa, but elevated in high-grade prostate adenocarcinomas. Interestingly, the expression of YAP1 was reduced/lost in both human and mouse NEPC.

Conclusions

The expression of YAP1 is elevated in high-grade prostate adenocarcinomas but lost in NEPC.

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Fig. 1: The expression of YAP1 in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Fig. 2: Microscopic examination of the prostate of TRAMP and LADY mice revealed that the expression of YAP1 increased in PIN but decreased in NEPC.
Fig. 3: The expression of YAP1 in human prostatic tissues.
Fig. 4: The differential expression of YAP1 in PCa.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Robert Matusik at Vanderbilt University for providing tissues of LADY mice and advice on this research. This research was supported by NIH R03 CA212567, R01 CA226285, U54 GM104940, DOD W81XWH-12-1-0212, and LSUHSC FWCC and Office of Research funding to XY.

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Author notes

  1. These author contribute equally: Cheng S, Prieto-Dominguez N, and Yang S

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Siyuan Cheng, Nestor Prieto-Dominguez, Shu Yang, Zachary M. Connelly, Samantha StPierre, Bryce Rushing, Andy Watkins, Lawrence Shi & Xiuping Yu

  2. Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Meredith Lakey & Lyndsey Buckner Baiamonte

  3. Urology Service, Overton Brooks Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Tajammul Fazili

  4. Department of Urology, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Tajammul Fazili, Yunshin Yeh & Xiuping Yu

  5. Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Aubrey Lurie & Yunshin Yeh

  6. Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Eva Corey

  7. Department of Medicine, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Runhua Shi

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Correspondence to Xiuping Yu.

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Cheng, S., Prieto-Dominguez, N., Yang, S. et al. The expression of YAP1 is increased in high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma but is reduced in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 23, 661–669 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-020-0229-z

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