Single-cell analysis of human primary prostate cancer reveals the heterogeneity of tumor-associated epithelial cell states

Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):141. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27322-4.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in men worldwide and consists of a mixture of tumor and non-tumor cell types. To characterize the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment, we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing on prostate biopsies, prostatectomy specimens, and patient-derived organoids from localized prostate cancer patients. We uncover heterogeneous cellular states in prostate epithelial cells marked by high androgen signaling states that are enriched in prostate cancer and identify a population of tumor-associated club cells that may be associated with prostate carcinogenesis. ERG-negative tumor cells, compared to ERG-positive cells, demonstrate shared heterogeneity with surrounding luminal epithelial cells and appear to give rise to common tumor microenvironment responses. Finally, we show that prostate epithelial organoids harbor tumor-associated epithelial cell states and are enriched with distinct cell types and states from their parent tissues. Our results provide diagnostically relevant insights and advance our understanding of the cellular states associated with prostate carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / classification
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Ontology
  • Genetic Heterogeneity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • Neoplasm Proteins / classification
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Organoids / metabolism
  • Organoids / pathology
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatectomy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Signal Transduction
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • Transcriptional Regulator ERG / genetics
  • Transcriptional Regulator ERG / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics*

Substances

  • ERG protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Transcriptional Regulator ERG