SOCS6 functions as a tumor suppressor by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis in human prostate cancer

Our previous studies revealed that the downregulation of Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) was correlated with malignant progression of human prostate cancer (PCa). In the current study, we aimed to investigate the tumor suppressive roles of SOCS6 and the underlying mechanisms in PCa. SOCS6 expression in PCa and non-cancerous prostate tissues were compared by immunohistochemistry. Statistical associations of SOCS6 expression with various clinicopathological features and patients' prognosis were evaluated. In addition, we investigated SOCS6's functions by overexpressing it in vitro (cell apoptosis, migration and invasion assays) and in vivo (tumor formation, angiogenesis and apoptosis).Moreover, SOCS6-regulated genes were identified by next-generation RNA-sequencing analysis, followed by pathway enrichment analysis and in vitro experimental validation.SOCS6 downregulation was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage (P=0.029) and positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.013)in PCa patients. We also identified SOCS6 as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in PCa patients (P=0.045). Moreover, overexpression of SOCS6 inhibitedPCa cell invasion, migration, tumor xenografts growth and angiogenesis, but induced PCa cell apoptosis (P values <0.05). Mechanically, we revealed that SOCS6 expression may induce cell apoptosis coincident with down-regulation of Bcl2 and Hspa1a, and may suppress tumor angiogenesis with down-regulation of F7, Fak3 and Frzb.These findings suggest that the reduced expression of SOCS6 may be predictive of unfavorable prognosis in PCa. Thus, SOCS6may serve as a tumor suppressor and a novel therapeutic target for this cancer.

Current cancer drug targets. 2018 Jan 01 [Epub ahead of print]

Dongbo Yuan, Wei Wang, Jiaming Su, Yongqiang Zhang, Boshi Luan, Haofu Rao, Tianfei Cheng, Wei Zhang, Shiwei Xiao, Mingsheng Zhang, Fu-Neng Jiang, Zhaolin Sun, Zhenyu Jia, Wei-De Zhong, Jianguo Zhu

Medical college of Guizhou University, Guizhou, 550025. China., Department of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, The affiliated hospital ofGuizhuo medical university, Guizhou, 550002. China., Zunyi medical university, Guizhou, 563000. China., Department of Urology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180. China., Department of Plant and Botany Sciences, University of California of Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521. United States.