Increased Density of Growth Differentiation Factor-15+Immunoreactive M1/M2 Macrophages in Prostate Cancer of Different Gleason Scores Compared with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Simple Summary Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer and cause of death in men worldwide. The main challenge is to discover biomarkers for malignancy to guide the physician towards optimized diagnosis and therapy. There is recent evidence that growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is elevated in cancer patients. Therefore, we aimed to decipher GDF-15+ cell types and their density in biopsies of human PCa patients with Gleason score (GS)6-9 and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Here we show that the density of GDF-15+ cells, mainly identified as interstitial macrophages (M phi), was higher in GS6-9 than in BPH, and, thus, GDF-15 is intended to differentiate patients with high GS vs. BPH, as well as GS6 vs. GS7 (or even with higher malignancy). Some GDF-15+ M phi showed a transepithelial migration into the glandular lumen and, thus, might be used for measurement in urine/semen. Taken together, GDF-15 is proposed as a novel tool to diagnose PCa vs. BPH or malignancy (GS6 vs. higher GS) and as a potential target for anti-tumor therapy. GDF-15 in seminal plasma and/or urine could be utilized as a non-invasive biomarker of PCa as compared to BPH. Although growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is highly expressed in PCa, its role in the development and progression of PCa is unclear. The present study aims to determine the density of GDF-15+ cells and immune cells (M1-/M2 macrophages [M phi], lymphocytes) in PCa of different Gleason scores (GS) compared to BPH. Immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence were performed on paraffin-embedded human PCa and BPH biopsies with antibodies directed against GDF-15, CD68 (M1 M phi), CD163 (M2 M phi), CD4, CD8, CD19 (T /B lymphocytes), or PD-L1. PGP9.5 served as a marker for innervation and neuroendocrine cells. GDF-15+ cell density was higher in all GS than in BPH. CD68+ M phi density in GS9 and CD163+ M phi exceeded that in BPH. GDF-15+ cell density correlated significantly positively with CD68+ or CD163+ M phi density in extratumoral areas. Double immunoreactive GDF-15+/CD68+ cells were found as transepithelial migrating M phi. Stromal CD68+ M phi lacked GDF-15+. The area of PGP9.5+ innervation was higher in GS9 than in BPH. PGP9.5+ cells, occasionally copositive for GDF-15+, also occurred in the glandular epithelium. In GS6, but not in BPH, GDF-15+, PD-L1+, and CD68+ cells were found in epithelium within luminal excrescences. The degree of extra-/intra-tumoral GDF-15 increases in M1/M2 phi is proposed to be useful to stratify progredient malignancy of PCa. GDF-15 is a potential target for anti-tumor therapy.

Automated summary

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer and cause of death in men worldwide. Recent evidence has shown that growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is elevated in cancer patients, providing new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment. This study found that the density of GDF-15+ cells was higher in PCa patients compared to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Some GDF-15+ cells were found to migrate into the glandular lumen, suggesting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers. GDF-15 is proposed as a novel tool for diagnosing PCa and assessing malignancy, as well as a potential target for anti-tumor therapy.