Tracking Genomic and Transcriptomic Changes in Metastatic Prostate Cancer through Circulating Tumor Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by tumors are plentiful in plasma, yet their use in exploring the molecular characteristics of tumors through comprehensive multi-omic analysis remains underutilized. By analyzing EV-DNA and EV-RNA obtained from both in vitro and in vivo models of metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), Irene Casanova-Salas et al. found that these vesicles carry significant amounts of tumor-derived material. 

This finding was further corroborated by examining two sets of longitudinal plasma samples from patients treated with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) or taxane-based therapies. The genomic features of EV-DNA closely match those found in patient biopsies and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), providing insights into disease progression. 

They introduced a new method, RExCuE, to facilitate the transcriptomic profiling of EV-RNA. The analysis demonstrated that the transcriptome of circulating EVs is rich in tumor-specific transcripts, highlighting unique patient and tumor characteristics, as well as adaptive changes in response to treatment. 

Overall, EV profiling proves to be a valuable tool for continuous monitoring of the genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of mPC through liquid biopsy.

SOURCE: https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(24)00228-9 

CREDITS: CELL PRESS