Based on new a new study by an international research team, spearheaded by Professor Lukas Kenner from the Medical University of Vienna, the Veterinary University of Vienna, and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institiute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR); a gene that is normally responsible for the growth of cancer plays an unexpected role in prostate cancer. The gene known as Stat3 is managed by the immune modulator interleukin 6 and typically progresses the growth of cancer cells. The international team has since discovered the missing puzzle piece that helps layout the pivotal role Stat3 and IL-6 signalling play in prostate cancer progression and development. The study received its funding from LBI-CR and the FWF. While results of the study have recently published in the renowned scientific journal, Nature Communications.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a crucial cytokine that regulates the cell’s survival and tumor growth. Hyperactive IL-6 may lead to cancer growth, especially as it manages STAT3, which was revealed to have an oncogenic role in a decent amount of tumors. Several treatment therapies are subsequently produced, in order to subdue IL-6 or STAT3. However, the circumstances are a little bit different in the case of prostate cancer. Kenner’s research team has demonstrated that contrary to popular opinion, active STAT3 suppresses/stunts cell growth in prostate tumors. It triggers the gene p14ARF, which obstructs cell division, therefore preventing tumor growth.
“Using knockout mice, which are preclinical model organisms, we can link IL-6/Stat3 signalling to ARF, an important gene for cell cycle control and decisions to grow or to arrest. These findings have consequences for prostate cancer metastasis,” said Jan Pencik, a PhD fellow in the lab of Kenner’s team.
For this reason alone, STAT3 and p14ARF are idyllically apt to serve as biomarkers for the prognosis of prostate cancer. If these two contributing elements are absent in tissue samples, the risk is significantly higher that the tumor divides, grows, and forms metastases.
“This is important, as the predictive power of these proteins as biomarkers is twice as good as the previous gold standard. As only about 10 percent of patients with prostate cancer die from the disease, this can help to prevent unnecessary therapeutic interventions with severe side effects such as incontinence and impotence. A non-invasive nuclear medical test based on these findings might soon be able to replace the painful removal of tissue samples to be examined,” explained Kenner.
And since interleukin 6 plays a contrary role in stopping prostate cancer growth makes a huge difference. Blockade of interleukin 6 is also utilized to treat other diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally Kenner notes this will mean that therapies that obstruct the IL-6 pathway may boost the growth of prostate cancer. Consequently, the drug that is used to treat inflammatory disease may aggravate malignancies.
“Applying IL-6/Stat3 blockers to clinical practice might be dangerous for patients with cancerous lesions, further studies are mandatory to assess the possibility of increased cancer risk right now,” said co-author of the study, Helmut Dolznig.
