Downregulated circular RNA itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase correlates with advanced pathologic T stage, high lymph node metastasis risk and poor survivals in prostate cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation of circular RNA itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (circ-ITCH) with pathological features as well as its predictive value on prognosis in prostate cancer patients.

Methods: Three hundred and twenty-four patients with prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy were consecutively included in this retrospective study, and patients' specimens of tumor as well as paired adjacent tissues were collected for detection of circ-ITCH expression. Patients' baseline characteristics and survival data were obtained from follow-up records, and correlation of circ-ITCH with patients' pathological features and survival was determined.

Results: Circ-ITCH expression was decreased in tumor tissue compared with paired adjacent tissues (P< 0.001), and it presented with good value in distinguishing tumor tissues from paired adjacent tissues with area under curve (AUC) of 0.812 (95%CI: 0.780-0.845). Circ-ITCH low expression was associated with advanced pathologic T stage (P= 0.002) and high risk of lymph node metastasis (P= 0.047) in prostate cancer patients. As for prognosis, patients with circ-ITCH high expression had longer disease-free survival (DFS) (P< 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P< 0.001). Additionally, circ-ITCH (high vs. low) independently predicted better survival, while Gleason score (> 7 vs. ⩽ 7) and surgical margin status (positive vs. negative) independently predicted worse survival in prostate patients underwent radical prostatectomy.

Conclusions: Circ-ITCH is downregulated in prostate cancer tissues, and its low expression correlates with advanced pathologic T stage, high lymph mode metastasis risk and poor survival in prostate cancer patients underwent radical prostatectomy.

Keywords: Circ-ITCH; expression; pathological features; prognosis; prostate cancer.