Dissecting the Significance of Acid Phosphatase 1 Gene Alterations in Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE The acid phosphatase 1 ( ACP1 ) gene encodes low-molecular-weight protein tyrosine phosphatase, which is overexpressed in prostate cancer (PC) and a potential therapeutic target. We analyzed ACP1 expression in primary/metastatic PC and its association with molecular profiles and clinical outcomes. METHODS NextGen sequencing of DNA (592-gene/whole-exome sequencing)/RNA(whole-transcriptome sequencing) was performed for 5,028 specimens. ACP1 -High/ ACP1 -Low expression was defined as quartile (Q4/1) of RNA transcripts per million (TPM). DNA mutational profiles were analyzed for ACP1 -quartile-stratified samples. Gene set enrichment analysis was used for Hallmark collection of pathways. PD-L1+(≥2+, ≥5%; SP142) was tested by immunohistochemistry. Tumor microenvironment's (TME) immune cell fractions were estimated by RNA deconvolution/quanTIseq. Overall survival (OS) was assessed from initial diagnosis/treatment initiation to death/last follow-up. RESULTS We included 3,058 (60.8%) samples from the prostate, 634 (12.6%) from lymph node metastases (LNMs), and 1,307 (26.0%) from distant metastases (DMs). ACP1 expression was higher in LNM/DM than prostate (49.8/47.9 v 44.1 TPM; P < .0001). TP53 mutations were enriched in ACP1 -Q4 (37.9%Q4 v 27.0%Q1; P < .001) among prostate samples. Pathways associated with cell cycle regulation and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched in ACP1 -Q4, whereas epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling via nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cell pathways were enriched in ACP1 -Q1. Neuroendocrine and androgen receptor signaling was increased in ACP1 -Q4. M2 macrophages and natural killer cell fractions were increased, whereas T cells and M1 macrophages were decreased in ACP1 -Q4. While OS differences between ACP1 -Q1/Q4 were not statistically significant, there was a trend for worse OS among ACP1 -Q4 prostate samples (Q4 v Q1: hazard ratio HR, 1.19 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.42; P = .06) and DM (HR, 1.12 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.36; P = .22) but not LNM (HR, 0.98 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.29; P = .87). CONCLUSION ACP1-High tumors exhibit a distinct molecular profile and cold TME, highlighting ACP1 's potential role in PC pathogenesis and novel therapeutic targeting.