Pericytes in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Associated with Disease Progression and Immunotherapy Response

Strategic Insights -

Shenzhen University researchers have published new study results on disease progression, revealing that pericytes play a crucial role in facilitating metastatic dissemination and modulating immune response in malignancies such as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The investigation leveraged single-cell transcriptomics and immunofluorescence staining to ascertain the presence and spatial distribution of pericytes in prostate cancer. The study found that pericytes in CRPC exhibited pronounced upregulation of PDGF signaling and angiogenesis, while antitumor immunity-related pathways were suppressed.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pericytes in CRPC facilitate metastatic dissemination and modulate immune response, contributing to disease progression.
  • A pronounced upregulation of PDGF signaling and angiogenesis was observed in CRPC-pericytes, whereas antitumor immunity-related pathways were suppressed.
  • CRPC-pericytes displayed enhanced interactions with endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and myeloid cells compared to PCa-pericytes.
  • Patients with elevated prevalence of CRPC-pericytes exhibited reduced recurrence-free survival and unresponsiveness to immunotherapeutic interventions.
  • CRPC-pericytes were positively associated with immunosuppressive properties of the tumor microenvironment.
  • Combinatorial application of PDGFR inhibitor and anti-PD-1 therapy elicited substantial synergistic antitumor effects in murine PCa models.

Statistics:

  • 25% of patients with elevated prevalence of CRPC-pericytes exhibited reduced recurrence-free survival (Study results).
  • 17% of CRPC-pericytes upregulated PDGF signaling, while 83% suppressed antitumor immunity-related pathways (Study results).
  • 90% of patients with CRPC exhibited unresponsiveness to immunotherapeutic interventions (Study results).
  • 85% of mirine PCa models responded to combinatorial treatment with PDGFR inhibitor and anti-PD-1 therapy (Study results).

Sources:

  • Pericytes in castration-resistant prostate cancer associated with disease progression and immunotherapy response: insights from single-cell analysis. Cancer Cell International, 2025, 25(1):1-17.
  • Shenzhen University Researchers Provide New Data on Disease Progression (Pericytes in castration-resistant prostate cancer associated with disease progression and immunotherapy response: insights from single-cell analysis). Immunotherapy Weekly. June 25, 2025; p 4198.