Comparative genomics reveals distinct immune-oncologic pathways in African American Men with Prostate Cancer

Shivanshu Awasthi, Anders Berglund, Julieta Abraham-Miranda, Robert J. Rounbehler, Kevin Kensler, Amparo Serna, Adriana Vidal, Sungyong You, Michael R. Freeman, Elai Davicioni, Yang Liu, R. Jeffrey Karnes, Eric A. Klein, Robert B. Den, Bruce J. Trock, Joshua D. Campbell, David J. Einstein, Raavi Gupta, Steven Balk, Priti LalJong Y. Park, John L. Cleveland, Timothy R. Rebbeck, Stephen J. Freedland, Kosj Yamoah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The role of immune-oncologic mechanisms of racial disparities in prostate cancer remains understudied. Limited research exists to evaluate the molecular underpinnings of immune differences in African American men (AAM) and European American men (EAM) prostate tumor microenvironment (TME). Experimental Design: A total of 1,173 radiation-na€ve radical prostatectomy samples with whole transcriptome data from the Decipher GRID registry were used. Transcriptomic expressions of 1,260 immune-specific genes were selected to assess immune-oncologic differences between AAM and EAM prostate tumors. Race-specific differential expression of genes was assessed using a rank test, and intergene correlational matrix and gene set enrichment was used for pathway analysis. Results: AAM prostate tumors have significant enrichment of major immune-oncologic pathways, including proinflammatory cytokines, IFNa, IFNg, TNFa signaling, ILs, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. AAM TME has higher total immune content score (ICSHIGH) compared with 0 (37.8% vs. 21.9%, P ¼ 0.003). AAM tumors also have lower DNA damage repair and are genomically radiosensitive as compared with EAM. IFITM3 (IFN-inducible transmembrane protein 3) was one of the major proinflammatory genes overexpressed in AAM that predicted increased risk of biochemical recurrence selectively for AAM in both discovery [HRAAM ¼ 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21–4.34; P ¼ 0.01] and validation (HRAAM ¼ 2.42; 95% CI, 1.52–3.86; P ¼ 0.0001) but not in EAM. Conclusions: Prostate tumors of AAM manifest a unique immune repertoire and have significant enrichment of proinflammatory immune pathways that are associated with poorer outcomes. Observed immune-oncologic differences can aid in a genomically adaptive approach to treating prostate cancer in AAM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)320-329
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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