Sinapsos Podcast | Oncology

E3   |  11 min   |   Latest   |  Publication Link

• Podcast based on: Pang, Z.; Wang, J.; Xu, Y.; Ji, B.; Ren, M.; Ding, B. APOBEC3C Suppresses Prostate Cancer by Regulating Key Molecules Involved in Cellular Inflammation, Cell Cycle Arrest, and DNA Damage Response. Cancers 2026, 18, 170. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18010170
  Type: Article  |  Publication date: 03 January 2026
  
  
• Summary: Given the clinical challenge of advanced, therapy-resistant prostate cancer (PCa), this study aimed to identify novel molecular drivers. Using transcriptomic data from the TCGA and GEO databases, combined with WGCNA, differential expression analysis, and LASSO regression, APOBEC3C (A3C) was identified as a key candidate, whose downregulation in PCa tumors correlated with advanced T stage, higher Gleason scores, and poor survival. Bioinformatic analysis linked high A3C expression to an anti-tumor immune microenvironment (e.g., increased CD8+ T cell infiltration and reduced M2 macrophages). In vitro assays confirmed that A3C overexpression suppressed PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while its knockdown promoted these malignant phenotypes. Mechanistically, A3C enhances the expression levels of STING1 and its downstream molecules, including Caspase1, IL-18, and IL-1β, upregulating DNA damage protective genes (GSTP1 and GPX3) and enhancing cell cycle regulator GAS1 expression. Collectively, this study establishes A3C as a PCa suppressor that impedes tumor progression via multiple key pathways.
  
  
• Keywords: APOBEC3C; prostate cancer; prognosis; immune microenvironment; inflammation

License and disclaimer:
Original article © 2026 by the authors. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This episode is an AI-generated audio adaptation of the article: the script and the voices are synthetic, changes were made, and the adaptation is not endorsed by the authors, the journal, or the publisher. It may contain errors or omissions, so consult the original publication before relying on any detail. It is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The creators accept no liability for any use of this content.