Aberrant cholesterol accumulation in diverse cancers is associated with intratumoral hypoxia, whereas the specific mechanistic connection underlying hypoxia-driven cholesterol metabolic dysregulation in prostate cancer (PCa) remains undefined. Our previous findings indicate that the positive feedback loop involving SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is critical to maintaining hypoxia-mediated metabolic reprogramming, while whether SENP1 modulates hypoxia-driven cholesterol metabolism remains unclear. Correlations among SENP1 expression, hypoxic status, and cholesterol metabolic profiles were analyzed using TCGA/GEO datasets, PCa tissue microarrays, and PCa cell lines. A series of molecular biology approaches, including co-immunoprecipitation, SUMOylation assay, proximity ligation assay (PLA), Western blotting, and luciferase reporter assay, were performed in HEK293T and PCa cells to clarify the regulatory mechanism of SENP1 in cholesterol metabolism. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and xenograft mouse models were utilized to evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy and safety of the SENP1 inhibitor Momordin Ic in vitro and in vivo. SENP1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of key cholesterogenic enzymes in PCa, and SENP1 was essential for hypoxia-induced intracellular cholesterol accumulation. Mechanistically, SENP1 directly catalyzed the deSUMOylation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) at the lysine 464 (K464) residue, which disrupted the interaction between SREBP2 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 and thereby stabilized the SREBP2 protein. Therapeutically, targeted inhibition of SENP1 by Momordin Ic significantly suppressed de novo cholesterogenesis, impaired the viability of PCa PDOs, and robustly inhibited tumor growth in xenograft models without inducing obvious systemic toxicity. Our study uncovers a previously unrecognized SENP1–SREBP2 regulatory axis that mediates hypoxia-induced de novo cholesterol biosynthesis in PCa, and identifies SENP1 as a promising therapeutic target for metabolic intervention in PCa treatment.
To compare the oncologic outcomes of intermediate-risk prostate cancer (FIR-PCa) patients receiving different initial treatment regimens as more FIR-PCa patients are now recommended for non-radical treatment due to the side effects of radical therapy. 8616 FIR prostate cancer patients were retrospectively evaluated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010–2015) and reported prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) for groups defined by the initial treatment category. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test, Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression, and Kaplan–Meier method. Kaplan–Meier curves of PCSS revealed that non-curative treatment provided worse disease control than curative management for FIR-PCa patients (Hazard ratio 5.9061; 95
Supplementary Table from Squalene Epoxidase Metabolic Dependency Is a Targetable Vulnerability in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
A solitary functioning kidney (SFK) with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an imperative indication for nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). Nevertheless, a giant pT3 RCC mass (maximum diameter >20 cm) on the functioning side of a patient with SFK is extremely rare. However, whether NSS is more beneficial than radical nephrectomy (RN) in such patients is controversial. Here, we present the case of a 71-year-old female patient with a 20 cm*16 cm RCC mass in the SFK, who initially presented with hematuria and acute urinary tract obstructive anuria caused by renal calculi. The patient underwent NSS treatment after our evaluation, and the 26-month follow-up revealed that her renal function recovered to the state before the tumor formation. In addition, no relapse or metastasis was detected.
目的 探讨神经酰胺激酶(CerK)抑制剂NVP-231对去势抵抗性前列腺癌(CRPC)细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移和侵袭的影响.方法 采用Western blotting法检测VCaP、LNCaP两株雄激素依赖性前列腺癌细胞与C4-2B、PC3两株CRPC细胞内CerK蛋白水平.用DMSO或不同浓度(500、1000 nmol/L)NVP-231分别处理C4-2B和PC3细胞.采用CCK-8法、克隆形成实验、Hoechst染色法、划痕愈合实验和Transwell小室实验分别检测处理48 h的细胞增殖、克隆形成、凋亡、迁移和侵袭能力.结果 与VCaP、LNCaP两株雄激素依赖性前列腺癌细胞比较,C4-2B、PC3两株CRPC细胞中CerK蛋白水平明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).与DMSO处理组比较,C4-2B和PC3细胞经NVP-231处理后细胞增殖能力降低,细胞克隆形成数目减少,细胞凋亡率升高,划痕愈合率降低,穿膜细胞数减少,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),且均具有浓度依赖性.结论 CerK抑制剂NVP-231能通过抑制细胞增殖与生长,促进凋亡,降低细胞侵袭和迁移能力,进而逆转CRPC细胞的恶性表型.
Abstract Considering the dismal prognosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), it is critical to identify novel therapeutic targets in this disease. Malignant cells have metabolic dependencies distinct from their healthy counterparts, resulting in therapeutic vulnerabilities. Although PTEN and TP53 are the most frequently comutated or codeleted driver genes in lethal CRPC, the metabolic dependencies underlying PTEN/p53 deficiency-driven CRPC for therapeutic intervention remain largely elusive. In this study, PTEN/p53 deficient tumors were determined to be reliant on cholesterol metabolism. Moreover, PTEN/p53 deficiency transcriptionally upregulated squalene epoxidase (SQLE) via activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2). In addition, PTEN deficiency enhanced the protein stability of SQLE by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β-mediated proteasomal pathway. Consequently, SQLE increased cholesterol biosynthesis to facilitate tumor cell growth and survival. Pharmacologic blockade of SQLE with FR194738 profoundly suppressed the invasive program of CRPC. Collectively, these results demonstrate a synergistic relationship between SQLE and PTEN/p53 deficiency in CRPC development and progression. Therefore, pharmacologic interventions targeting SQLE may hold promise for the treatment of patients with CRPC. Significance: This study reveals PTEN and p53 deficiency confers a dependence on SQLE-mediated cholesterol metabolism, providing insights for new therapeutic strategies for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) is a key enzyme that regulates serine/glycine transition; however, its specific function and molecular mechanisms in tumors remain controversial. In this study, we aimed to enhance the understanding in this regard. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, as well as data analyses using public databases, we investigated the effect of SHMT2 in prostate cancer. Our results indicated that SHMT2 acts as a prostate cancer tumor proliferation suppressor and negatively regulates the aggressive behavior of prostate cancer through activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Additionally, downregulated SHMT2 expression was observed in more advanced prostate cancer phenotypes, and further analysis showed that its depletion promoted proliferation and migration in prostate cancer cell lines. Taken together, our results revealed the function of SHMT2 in prostate cancer and may potentially play a role in the exploration of new therapeutic strategies.
Metabolic programming and mitochondrial dynamics along with T cell differentiation affect T cell fate and memory development; however, how to control metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dynamics in T cell memory development is unclear. Here, we provide evidence that the SUMO protease SENP1 promotes T cell memory development via Sirt3 deSUMOylation. SENP1-Sirt3 signalling augments the deacetylase activity of Sirt3, promoting both OXPHOS and mitochondrial fusion. Mechanistically, SENP1 activates Sirt3 deacetylase activity in T cell mitochondria, leading to reduction of the acetylation of mitochondrial metalloprotease YME1L1. Consequently, deacetylation of YME1L1 suppresses its activity on OPA1 cleavage to facilitate mitochondrial fusion, which results in T cell survival and promotes T cell memory development. We also show that the glycolytic intermediate fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) as a negative regulator suppresses AMPK-mediated activation of the SENP1-Sirt3 axis and reduces memory development. Moreover, glucose limitation reduces FBP production and activates AMPK during T cell memory development. These data show that glucose limitation activates AMPK and the subsequent SENP1-Sirt3 signalling for T cell memory development. Memory T cells are particularly reliant on fatty acid oxidation as a source of energy. Here the authors show this reliance is controlled by AMPK sensing of glucose deprivation that triggers SENP1-Sirt3 signalling, driving fatty acid oxidation and memory differentiation in T cells via deacetylation of YME1L1 to induce mitochondrial fusion.
Human hexokinase 2 is an essential regulator of glycolysis that couples metabolic and proliferative activities in cancer cells. The binding of hexokinase 2 to the outer membrane of mitochondria is critical for its oncogenic activity. However, the regulation of hexokinase 2 binding to mitochondria remains unclear. Here, we report that SUMOylation regulates the binding of hexokinase 2 to mitochondria. We find that hexokinase 2 can be SUMOylated at K315 and K492. SUMO-specific protease SENP1 mediates the de-SUMOylation of hexokinase 2. SUMO-defective hexokinase 2 preferably binds to mitochondria and enhances both glucose consumption and lactate production and decreases mitochondrial respiration in parallel. This metabolic reprogramming supports prostate cancer cell proliferation and protects cells from chemotherapy-induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, we demonstrate an inverse relationship between SENP1-hexokinase 2 axis and chemotherapy response in prostate cancer samples. Our data provide evidence for a previously uncovered posttranslational modification of hexokinase 2 in cancer cells, suggesting a potentially actionable strategy for preventing chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND:Tumor-infiltrating immune cells participate in the initiation and progression of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). However, it is not fully known how immune infiltration affects the development of PRAD and its clinical presentation. METHODS:Herein, we investigated the immune infiltration phenotypes in PRAD based on transcriptome profiles, methylation profiles, somatic mutation, and copy number variations. We also developed an immune prognostic model (IPM) to identify unfavorable prognosis. To verify this model, immunohistochemistry staining was performed on a cohort of PRAD samples. Moreover, we constructed a nomogram to assess the survival of PRAD incorporating immune infiltration and other clinical features. RESULTS:We categorized PRAD patients into high and low-level clusters based on immune infiltration phenotypes. The patients in the high-level clusters had worse survival than their low-level counterparts. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that both anti- and pro-tumor terms were enriched in high-level cluster. Moreover, we identified a positive correlation between anti- and pro-tumor immune cells in PRAD microenvironment. Notably, Somatic mutation analysis showed patients in high-level cluster had a higher somatic mutation burden of KMT2D, HSPA8, CHD7, and MAP1A. In addition, we developed an IPM with robust predictive ability. The model can distinguish high-risk PRAD patients with poor prognosis from low-risk PRAD patients in both training and another three independent validation datasets. Besides, we constructed a nomogram incorporating Gleason score, pathological T stage, and IPM for the prognosis prediction of PRAD patients, which displayed robust predictive ability and might contribute to clinical practice. CONCLUSION:Our work illustrated the immune infiltration phenotypes strongly related to the poor prognosis of PRAD patients, and highlighted the potential of the IPM to identify unfavorable tumor features.
The HOX genes are a group of highly conserved Homeobox‐containing genes that control the body plan organization during development. However, their contributions to tumorigenesis and tumor progression remain uncertain and controversial. Here we provided evidence of tumor‐suppressive activity of HOXD13 in prostate cancer. HOXD13 depletion contributes to more aggressiveness of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. These effects were corroborated in a metastatic mice model, where we observed more bone metastatic lesions formed by prostate cancer cells with HOXD13 ablation. Mechanistically, HOXD13 prevents BMP4‐induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1 (SMAD1) transcription. Both bioinformation and our tissue microarray cohort data show that HOXD13 expression inversely correlated in advanced prostate cancer patient specimens. Our findings establish HOXD13 as a negative regulator of prostate cancer progression and metastasis by preventing BMP4/SMAD1 signaling, and potentially suggest new strategies for targeting metastatic prostate cancer.
Objective To assess the use of the cell cycle progression (CCP) score versus actual risk stratification practice in making treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients with locally adverse pathology after radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients and methods Men with adverse pathologic features, pT3 or positive surgical margins who underwent RP in 2010-2014 at Renji hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP. RNA was quantified from paraffin-embedded RP specimens. The CCP score was calculated as average expression of 31 CCP genes, normalized to 15 housekeeper genes. The prognostic utility of the CCP score was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results Among the 100 men identified, 5-year BCR-free survival for the low- (< 0), intermediate- (0-1) and high- (> 1) CCP score groups was 89.3%, 38.8%, and 12.9%, respectively. In multivariable models adjusting for clinical and pathological variables with the cancer of the prostate risk assessment post-surgical (CAPRA-S) score, both continuous CCP score [hazard ratio (HR) 1.373 per unit score, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006-1.874; p = 0.046) and the categorized CCP score (p < 0.001)were independent predictors of BCR. Conclusions The present study provides insights into the role the CCP score plays in risk stratification of this cohort and in determining candidacy for deferred secondary treatment. From our perspective, the CCP score allows better stratification and can help identifying patients at lower risk of disease recurrence who could benefit from a wait-and-see policy.
Objective To determine the influence of abiraterone acetate (AA) on neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the prognostic predicting value of the serum NED markers in mCRPC patients treated with AA.Methods We conducted an analysis in 115 chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients who were treated with chemotherapy in Renji hospital from 2013 to 2017.The median age was 70,ranged from 65 to 76 years old.The median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 101.1 ng/ml (78.5-150.0 ng/ml),13.4 ng/ml (10.5-17.6 ng/ml) and 38.8 ng/ml (11.2-123.2 ng/ml),respectively.Among them,48 cases were classified as the group without AA treatment.The other 67 cases were classified as group after AA failure.In group without AA treatment,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 109.1 ng/ml(80-151.5 ng/ml);13.8 ng/ml(10.8-18.2 ng/ml) and 39.2 ng/ml (8.6-200 ng/ml),respectively.In group after AA failure,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 105.4 ng/ml(78.8-175.5 ng/ml),13.8 ng/ml(10.8-17.6 ng/ml) and 39.0 ng/ml(8.4-219.8 ng/ml),respectively.In the group with serial evaluation of NED markers during AA treatment,the median serum CgA,NSE levels at baseline were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml),13.3 ng/ml (10.4-18.1 ng/ml),respectively.The endpoints were PSA PFS(progression-free survival) and radiographic PFS (rPFS).Results In 34 patients with serial evaluation,serum NED markers level in 19 patients increased after the failure of AA treatment.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml)and 13.25 ng/ml (10.37-18.14 ng/ml) at baseline.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 129.6ng/ml (75.5-230.5 ng/ml) and 14.7 ng/ml (11.8-19.1 ng/ml) after 6 months treatment,respectively.The median serum CgA and NSE levels were 130.4 ng/ml (95.7-205.7 ng/ml) and 15.2 ng/ml(12.4-18.7 ng/ml) at the time of failure of AA treatment,respectively.There was no significant difference of NED markers between baseline and failure of AA treatment (P =0.243).In logistic univariate analysis,AA treatment and its duration were not independent factors influencing NED(P =0.30;P =0.52).Compared with the NED markers elevation group in the first 6 months of AA treatment and baseline supranormal NED markers group,the NED markers decline group(PSA PFS(17.1 vs.10.4 months,P < 0.001) and rPFS (17.0 vs.10.4 months,P =0.003)) and baseline normal NED markers group(PSA PFS(14.1 vs.9.5 months,P =0.001) and rPFS(16.4 vs.10.5 months,P < 0.001)) has a longer median PSA PFS and rPFS respectively.In multivariate Cox analysis,baseline NED markers level and NED markers variation during the first 6 months of AA treatment remained significant predictors of rPFS(P < 0.05),and PSA-PFS (P < 0.05).Conclusions We found there was heterogeneity in changes of NED markers in different mCRPC patients during AA treatment,and AA might not significantly lead to progression of NED of mCRPC in general.Serial CgA and NSE evaluation might help clinicians guide clinical treatment of mCRPC patients.Serum NED markers elevation during the first 6 months of AA treatment and elevated baseline NED markers levels indicated poor prognosis in mCRPC treated with AA.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate (AA) plus prednisone compared with prednisone alone in Asian patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and to identify predictive factors.
levels in plasma and prostate tissue were measured at baseline, RP and 12 months for the first 30 patients who completed the study.RESULTS: Preliminary analysis revealed important modulation of circulating levels over time for about half of the patients.Interestingly, we observed two distinct plasmatic cytokine profiles at RP (designated group A and group B).More than half of circulating cytokines were significantly upregulated in group A compared to group B. No significant difference was observed in the prostate tissue between patients at RP. CONCLUSIONS: These first preliminary results suggest that systemic inflammation is modulated by the intervention in PCa patients over time.The analysis of the entire cohort is warranted and will likely identify LCn3 modulated cytokines in circulation and in the prostate tissue.This RCT represents a unique setting to study the LCn3 biological effects on PCa.
The correct diagnosis of small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate is critical because of its aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. The histopathologic diagnosis could be challenging without neuroendocrine markers, which currently has limitations. Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1), a zinc-finger transcription factor, is considered to play an important role in the development of several neuroendocrine precursor cells. Its diagnosis value has only recently been evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the expression of INSM in three high-throughput RNA sequencing data sets and performed INSM1 immunohistochemistry on a large series of prostatic SCCs and non-neuroendocrine prostate tissues. To validate its possible utility as a diagnostic marker, the performance of chromogranin and synaptophysin was used for comparison. We found INSM1 mRNA is up-regulated in neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma samples from the published data sets. The results were verified by the immunohistochemistry performance. INSM1 was positive in 92.3% of prostatic SCCs, compared with 53.8% positive for chromogranin, and 84.6% positive for synaptophysin. INSM1 was also stained all of the mixed SCC-acinar adenocarcinomas and metastatic SCCs progression from acinar adenocarcinoma. Only 3.4% of benign prostate tissues and 4.0% of prostate adenocarcinomas were INSM1 positive. Our data suggest that INSM1 is a novel sensitive and specific marker for detection of SCC of the prostate. Application of INSM1 in clinical pathologic diagnosis will be valuable.
ObjectiveTo determine if prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and its variation could predict initial response to treatment and prognosis in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with Abiraterone (AA). Patients and MethodsOne-hundred-twelve chemotherapy pretreated or chemotherapy-naive patients were scheduled for systemic treatment with AA. PNI levels were measured before and after one month of AA treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictive factors of initial response to AA treatment. Univariable and Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors that were associated with PSA progression-free survival (PSA-PFS), radiographic PFS (rPFS) and overall survival (OS). The Harrell concordance index with variables only or combined PNI data were used to evaluate the prognostic accuracy. ResultsEighty-one (72.3%) of 112 patients showed initial response to AA treatment, in which 15 experienced PSA flare during AA treatment. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, high baseline PNI level, PSA level decrease during the first month of AA treatment and PNI level elevation during the first month of AA treatment were significantly correlated with initial response to AA treatment. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, low PNI level remained significant predictors of OS, rPFS and PSA-PFS. The estimated c-index of the multivariate model for OS increased from 0.82 without PNI to 0.83 when PNI added. ConclusionIndependent of PSA level variation, PNI level elevation during the first month of AA treatment and high baseline PNI level were significantly correlated with initial response to AA treatment. In addition, low pretreatment PNI level is a negative independent prognosticator of survival outcomes in mCRPC treated with AA and also increases the accuracy of established prognostic model.
Objective· To assess the efficacy of abiraterone acetate (AA) plus prednisone treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients and analyze the prognostic factors for this treatment. Methods · The medical history of 112 patients with mCRPC treated in Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, including 70 patients in the chemotherapy-na?ve setting and 42 in the post-chemotherapy setting, were retrospectively reviewed. Coprimary end points were prostate specific antigen progression-free survival (PSA PFS), radiographic PFS (rPFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors that were associated with PSA PFS, rPFS and OS. Results · At a median follow-up of 20.2 months, 59 (52.7%) patients had died. The median PSA PFS, rPFS and OS were 8.9 (7.8~10.0) months, 9.7 (9.0~10.4) months, and 22.2 (20.3~24.1) months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, previous chemotherapy, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(≥3 vs<3),serum lactate dehydrogenase level(≥196 U/L vs<196 U/L)and ECOG PS(≤?1 vs 2)were independent predictors for PSA PFS and rPFS,and previous chemotherapy,ECOG PS(≤?1 vs 2)remained significant predictors for OS. Conclusion·These results further support the favourable profile of AA plus prednisone in patients with mCRPC in China.Previous chemotherapy,ECOG PS(≤?1 vs 2)remained significant predictors for OS.
Purpose To evaluate and compare the efficacy of prostate volume (PV), transitional zone volume (TZV), and prostate volume index (PVI, the ratio of TZV to peripheral zone volume) in the identification of men at risk of prostate cancer (PCa) and high-progression PCa (HPPCa) at the initial biopsy (IBX) in a real-world population. Methods From Jul 2014 to Aug 2016, data on 1144 patients who had undergone the initial prostate biopsies were prospectively collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors for PCa and HPPCa. Based on independent predictors, nomogram models were developed and internally validated to assess a man’s risk of harboring PCa and HPPCa. Results The detection rates of PCa and HPPCa were 43.09% (493/1144) and 39.16% (448/1144), respectively. In the multivariate analyses, age, PSA, TZV, DRE, and TRUS instead of PV or PVI were independent predictors for PCa and HPPCa, percent free PSA was independent predictor for PCa not for HPPCa. Such independent predictors were finally included in the nomogram models. The AUCs of TZV-based nomogram models were 87.0% for PCa and 87.7% for HPPCa, which were higher than that of PSA alone or other predictive models. Conclusions TZV is a better predictive biomarker than PV or PVI for PCa and HPPCa, we recommend adding TZV but not PV or PVI to the nomogram models to improve the predictive accuracy of PCa and HPPCa at IBX.
BackgroundTo determine the influence of abiraterone Acetate (AA) on neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MethodsWe conducted an analysis in 115 chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients who would be treated with chemotherapy. The serum levels of chromogranin A (CgA), neurone-specific enolase (NSE) were measured in 67 mCRPC patients without AA treatment and 48 patients after the failure of AA treatment, in which these markers were also measured in 34 patients before and after 6 months of AA treatment. Comparative t-test was used to evaluate the serial changes of serum NED markers during AA treatment and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the influence of AA treatment on NED. ResultsSerum CgA were NSE were evaluated to be above the upper limit of normal (ULN) in 56 (48.7%) and 29 (25.2%) patients before chemotherapy. In 34 patients with serial evaluation, serum CgA level of 14 patients and NSE of 14 patients increased after the failure of AA treatment. There was no significant difference of NED markers (CgA or NSE variation (P=0.243) between at baseline and after the failure of AA treatment. Compared with the CgA elevation group in the first 6 months of AA treatment and baseline supranormal CgA group, the CgA decline group, and baseline normal CgA group has a much longer median PSA PFS (14.34 vs 10.00 months, P<0.001, and 14.23 vs 10.30 months, P=0.02) and rPFS, respectively (18.33 vs 11.37 months, P<0.001, and 17.10 vs 12.07 months, P=0.03). In logistic univariate analysis, AA treatment and its duration were not independent factors influencing NED. ConclusionsWe hypothesized that AA might not significantly lead to progression of NED of mCRPC in general. Furthermore, we found there was heterogeneity in changes of NED markers in different mCRPC patients during AA treatment. Serial CgA and NSE evaluation might help clinicians guide clinical treatment of mCRPC patients.