The prognostic value of ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2 in predicting recurrence for prostate cancers

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic significance of ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2 (RRM2) in low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and methods: A retrospective outcome study was conducted on 164 eligible PCa samples from the City of Hope (n = 90) and the Taipei Medical University (n = 74). The RRM2 protein levels were detected by immunohistochemistry. Biochemical recurrence was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses. Cell invasion assays, Ras/Raf, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 activities were determined to evaluate the role of RRM2 on invasiveness of PCa. Results: Expression of RRM2 was significantly increased in patients with higher Gleason score, who had advanced T stage, and who were margin/capsule positive (P-, capsule-, and stage T1-T2. In patients with Gleason score 4 to 7, the risk of recurrence was proportional to RRM2 protein levels. The prognostic performance of RRM2 was superior to that of pathoclinical factors, including margin/capsule status and T stage. An in vitro study demonstrated that RRM2 could promote tumor invasion activities in PCa cell lines. Suppression of RRM2 reduced the Ras/Raf and matrix metallopeptidase 9 activities. Conclusion: RRM2 plays a critical role in proliferation and invasion of PCa. Adding RRM2 as a biomarker in clinical assessments may increase model precision in predicting recurrence in patients with low-risk PCa.