A bioinformatics screen identifies <scp>TCF19</scp> as an aggressiveness‐sustaining gene in prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a prevalent tumor type that, despite being highly curable, progresses to metastatic disease in a fraction of patients, thus accounting for more than 350 000 annual deaths worldwide. In turn, uncovering the molecular insights of metastatic disease is instrumental in improving the survival rate of prostate cancer patients. By means of gene expression meta-analysis in multiple prostate cancer patient cohorts, we identified a set of genes that are differentially expressed in aggressive prostate cancer. Transcription factor 19 (TCF19) stood out as an unprecedented epithelial gene upregulated in metastatic disease, with prognostic potential and negatively associated with the activity of the androgen receptor. By combining computational and empirical approaches, our data revealed that TCF19 is required for full metastatic capacity, and its depletion influences core cancer-related processes, such as tumor growth and vascular permeability, supporting the role of this gene in the dissemination of prostate tumor cells.
Authors
- Sofia Palacio
- Laura Bárcena
- Arkaitz Carracedo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5957-1260)
- Amaia Ercilla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8999-7131)
- Mariona Graupera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4608-4185)
- Isabel Mendizabal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9018-3474)
- Onintza Carlevaris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8616-6233)
- Roger R. Gomis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6473-2858)
- Marta Fidalgo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6794-0473)
- Natalia Martín-Martín
- Sonia Fernández‐Ruiz
- Marc Guiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7083-986X)
- Ana M. Aransay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-612X)
- Ianire Astobiza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7142-7066)
- Saioa Garcia‐Longarte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5412-4234)
- Jana R. Crespo
Institutions
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- University of the Basque Country (ES)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (ES)
- CIC bioGUNE (ES)
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (ES)
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Molecular Oncology
- Published
- 2025-09-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.70118
- Primary Topic
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundación BBVA
- Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
- European Commission
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer
- Fundación Fero
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación