An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer

Abstract Background Prostate cancer(PCa) ranks among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in men. The progression and heterogeneity of tumors pose significant challenges to clinical prognosis and treatment strategies. Recently, extrachromosomal DNA(ecDNA) has emerged as a critical player in ca...

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Main Authors: JiangPing Qiu, Jiang Wu, Nan Zhou, Cong Lai, Xin Huang, Cheng Liu, XiaoQing Yuan, Kewei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03886-9
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author JiangPing Qiu
Jiang Wu
Nan Zhou
Cong Lai
Xin Huang
Cheng Liu
XiaoQing Yuan
Kewei Xu
author_facet JiangPing Qiu
Jiang Wu
Nan Zhou
Cong Lai
Xin Huang
Cheng Liu
XiaoQing Yuan
Kewei Xu
author_sort JiangPing Qiu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Prostate cancer(PCa) ranks among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in men. The progression and heterogeneity of tumors pose significant challenges to clinical prognosis and treatment strategies. Recently, extrachromosomal DNA(ecDNA) has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, influencing tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Oncogenes and regulatory sequences carried on ecDNA(ecDNA genes) can significantly alter the biological characteristics of tumors and their clinical outcomes. Methods In this study, we obtained ecDNA genes specifically expressed in PCa from the ECGA database. To construct a prognostic risk model for Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival (BRFS), the two most common types of ecDNA genes which are protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs, were analyzed using Cox regression and LASSO regression techniques. Through KEGG/GO pathway enrichment analysis, we identified relevant pathways and analyzed the immune cell infiltration status. Functional assays, such as colony formation, CCK-8, migration, and invasion assays, were employed to assess the cellular functions of a key lncRNA AC016394.2. Results Our analysis identified six key ecDNA lncRNAs(ec-lncRNAs), including the ec-lncRNA AC016394.2, with significant prognostic value in PCa. By employing our risk scoring model, patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups, revealing significant differences in their BRFS outcomes. The model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy and clinical relevance. The 1/3/5-year AUC of the model is close to 0.8, which is higher than most common clinical indicators such as Gleason score and TM staging. KEGG and GO pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the high-risk group was predominantly enriched in immune-related pathways. Additionally, immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated notable differences in the distribution of specific immune cell populations between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Knockdown of AC016394.2 inhibited PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conclusions This study presents a novel ecDNA gene-based prognostic risk model for PCa, highlighting the functional importance of ec-lncRNA AC016394.2. These findings offer valuable insights into the biological role of ec-lncRNAs, highlighting their potential as targets for precision oncology and therapeutic intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-ae3f9ba6f0234a4aba24c68ac4bdf9f62025-08-20T03:04:11ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-07-0125111310.1186/s12935-025-03886-9An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancerJiangPing Qiu0Jiang Wu1Nan Zhou2Cong Lai3Xin Huang4Cheng Liu5XiaoQing Yuan6Kewei Xu7Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Ganzhou People’s HospitalDepartment of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Prostate cancer(PCa) ranks among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in men. The progression and heterogeneity of tumors pose significant challenges to clinical prognosis and treatment strategies. Recently, extrachromosomal DNA(ecDNA) has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, influencing tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Oncogenes and regulatory sequences carried on ecDNA(ecDNA genes) can significantly alter the biological characteristics of tumors and their clinical outcomes. Methods In this study, we obtained ecDNA genes specifically expressed in PCa from the ECGA database. To construct a prognostic risk model for Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival (BRFS), the two most common types of ecDNA genes which are protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs, were analyzed using Cox regression and LASSO regression techniques. Through KEGG/GO pathway enrichment analysis, we identified relevant pathways and analyzed the immune cell infiltration status. Functional assays, such as colony formation, CCK-8, migration, and invasion assays, were employed to assess the cellular functions of a key lncRNA AC016394.2. Results Our analysis identified six key ecDNA lncRNAs(ec-lncRNAs), including the ec-lncRNA AC016394.2, with significant prognostic value in PCa. By employing our risk scoring model, patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups, revealing significant differences in their BRFS outcomes. The model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy and clinical relevance. The 1/3/5-year AUC of the model is close to 0.8, which is higher than most common clinical indicators such as Gleason score and TM staging. KEGG and GO pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the high-risk group was predominantly enriched in immune-related pathways. Additionally, immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated notable differences in the distribution of specific immune cell populations between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Knockdown of AC016394.2 inhibited PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conclusions This study presents a novel ecDNA gene-based prognostic risk model for PCa, highlighting the functional importance of ec-lncRNA AC016394.2. These findings offer valuable insights into the biological role of ec-lncRNAs, highlighting their potential as targets for precision oncology and therapeutic intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03886-9EcDNA geneTCGAProstate cancerPrognostic modelAC016394.2
spellingShingle JiangPing Qiu
Jiang Wu
Nan Zhou
Cong Lai
Xin Huang
Cheng Liu
XiaoQing Yuan
Kewei Xu
An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
Cancer Cell International
EcDNA gene
TCGA
Prostate cancer
Prognostic model
AC016394.2
title An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
title_full An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
title_fullStr An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
title_full_unstemmed An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
title_short An EcDNA gene-based risk model and functional verification of a key ec-lncRNA AC016394.2 for prostate cancer
title_sort ecdna gene based risk model and functional verification of a key ec lncrna ac016394 2 for prostate cancer
topic EcDNA gene
TCGA
Prostate cancer
Prognostic model
AC016394.2
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03886-9
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