Apelin promotes Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C (VEGF-C)-induced lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is often associated with distant metastasis in its later stages. Lymphangiogenesis has been identified as a critical factor in cancer metastasis, and the adipokine apelin has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. However, researchers have yet to elucidate the mechanisms by which apelin regulates the key lymphangiogenic factor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C (VEGF-C), to promote distant metastasis in prostate cancer. This study identified a strong positive correlation between apelin levels and prostate cancer metastasis. Apelin stimulation was shown to upregulate VEGF-C expression, promoting the formation of new lymphatic vessels. Apelin treatment was also shown to downregulate miR-196a-5p expression via the proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase c-Src (c-Src) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways, which regulates VEGF-C expression and lymphangiogenesis in prostate cancer cell lines. In an orthotopic mouse model, apelin inhibition prevented lymphangiogenesis and distant metastasis. These findings suggest that targeting apelin could be a promising therapeutic approach to preventing prostate cancer metastasis and lymphangiogenesis