3P TCR clonal remodeling and association with response to neoadjuvant therapy in early breast cancer

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide.Being an androgen-dependent organ, the prostate renders PCa intrinsically hormonesensitive, with the androgen receptor (AR) a hormone-activated transcription factor playing a central role in androgen signaling.Recent insights into cancer stem cells (CSCs) have opened new avenues for therapeutic intervention in multiple cancers, including PCa.In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic relevance of CSCs by assessing surface markers CD44, CD24, and CD133, alongside inflammatory markers, in patients with PCa.Methods: A total of 120 participants were recruited, comprising 50 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as controls, 40 newly diagnosed untreated patients with localized PCa, and 30 patients with histologically confirmed metastatic PCa.Expression of CSC markers CD44 + /CD24 -and CD44 + /CD133 + was evaluated using flow cytometry.In addition, serum PSA, testosterone, and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured.PSA and testosterone quantification was performed using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA).Results: Flow cytometry demonstrated significantly elevated expression of CD44 + / CD24 -and CD44 + /CD133 + CSC populations in both localized and metastatic PCa compared to the BPH group.Similarly, PSA, testosterone, and ROS levels were markedly higher (p < 0.001) in PCa patients, with the greatest increase observed in metastatic cases.Correlation analysis in localized PCa revealed significant associations (p < 0.05), including a positive correlation between CSC marker expression (CD44 + /CD24 -, CD44 + /CD133 + ) and PSA levels (r = 0.32, p = 0.030). Conclusions:The findings highlight the pivotal role of CSCs in prostate cancer progression and invasiveness.Overexpression of CSC markers, particularly in metastatic disease, correlates with poor prognosis, underscoring their potential as valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in PCa.