Prostate malignant tumor and benign prostatic hyperplasia microenvironments in black African men: Limited infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes, NK‐cells, and high frequency of CD73+ stromal cells

Abstract

BackgroundAnti‐cancerous immunology has yet to be investigated in the African black population, despite being the dawn of precision medicine.AimHere we investigated the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in black Africans.MethodsThrough immunohistochemistry analysis of prostate cancer and BPH patients' biopsies, we investigated the expression and distribution of CD73, CCD8 T‐lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. In addition, we looked at tumor‐infiltrating features CD8 T‐lymphocytes and natural killer cells.ResultsWe show for the first time in black Africans a high expression of CD73 in epithelial‐stromal cells and virtually no infiltration of CD8 T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in the tumoral area. In addition, CD73 was seven (7) times more likely to be expressed in prostate cancer stromal tissues than in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues (odds ratio = 7.2; χ2 = 21; p < .0001). In addition, PSA concentration was significantly higher in prostate cancer patients than in BPH patients (p < .001). Also, the PSA‐based ROC. analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.87 (p < .0001).ConclusionCD73 expression is more likely expressed in prostate cancer stromal tissues than in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. The features of prostate cancer in Black Africans suggest CD73 expression as a possible target for immunotherapy in this population.

Bridging racial and ethnic disparities in cancer research

“…There was seven times more CD73 expression in prostate cancer stromal tissues than in BPH tissues, and prostate cancer patients had higher PSA concentrations, indicating CD73 as an immunotherapy target. 4 According to Le et al, despite the higher prostate cancer risk of AAM, they are underrepresented in genetic studies and clinical trials. As a result of this underrepresentation, genomic predictor models and insights from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) may not be as applicable to AAMs.…”