Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks among the most prevalent cancers in men, noted for
its high mortality rate and unfavorable prognosis. Estrogen-related genes (ERGs)
are significantly associated with the progression of PCa. This investigation
aims to comprehensively assess the prognosis of PCa based on ERGs and explore
its underlying biological mechanisms. Univariate, multivariate, and Least
Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analyses were
conducted to identify prognostic signature genes and build a prognostic model.
The model’s predictive performance was assessed using Receiver Operating
Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene
Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment
analyses were employed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of
PCa. Antitumor drugs with high sensitivity were predicted using the CellMiner
database and the pRRophitic package. Additionally, miRNAs targeting the
identified signature genes were predicted using the miRNet database. This study
identified six ERGs as prognostic biomarkers for PCa: POU4F1, BMP2, PGF, GAS1,
GNAZ, and FGF11. The findings indicated that individuals in the low-risk
category exhibited improved prognostic results. Notably, PCa progression may be
closely linked to the cell adhesion molecule pathway and epigenetic regulation.
Additionally, hsa-let-7a-5p and hsa-miR-34a-5p were identified as potential
therapeutic regulators for PCa treatment. In conclusion, this research offers
novel perspectives into the progression of PCa, providing robust scientific
support for the development of personalized treatment strategies for PCa
patients.
Keywords
prostate cancer - estrogen-related genes - prognosis - risk model