Distinct Metabolic Signatures of Hormone-Sensitive and Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Revealed by a 1H NMR-Based Metabolomics of Biopsy Tissue

Tumor metabolic characteristics have been associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa), but little information is available regarding the metabolic alterations from hormone-sensitive (HSPC) to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). In this study, therefore, we investigated the metabolic profiles in prostate tissues from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), HSPC, and CRPC using a H-1 NMR-based metabolomics approach. The results show that clear separations in metabolic patterns were obtained in prostate tissues among BPH, HSPC, and CRPC; however, CRPC may induce a metabolic shift toward BPH, mainly involving amino acid metabolism, choline metabolism, and the Warburg effect. Based on these metabolic changes, we identified potential biomarker panels for the discrimination between BPH vs HSPC, BPH vs CRPC, and HSPC vs CRPC with the AUC values of 0.995, 0.972, and 0.937, respectively. Collectively, tissue-based metabolomics analysis not only identifies the altered metabolic pathways during PCa progression but also has the potential to help the classification and diagnosis of PCa in clinical practice.