{"id":354,"date":"2026-09-21T08:15:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T08:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.m.ehime-u.ac.jp\/school\/epcrc\/?page_id=354"},"modified":"2026-09-21T09:42:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T09:42:04","slug":"psma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.m.ehime-u.ac.jp\/school\/epcrc\/en\/research-themes\/psma\/","title":{"rendered":"PSMA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PSMA \u2014 From Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target to Tumor Biology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)<\/strong> is a transmembrane protein highly expressed in prostate cancer cells. PSMA has become an important molecular target in prostate cancer, with applications including PSMA-PET imaging and PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research goes beyond the use of PSMA as a diagnostic marker and investigates its biological functions in cancer progression and the tumor microenvironment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u3000Watanabe et al. The Prostate 2021<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How Does PSMA Affect Tumor Vasculature?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We previously demonstrated that PSMA-positive extracellular vesicles released from prostate cancer cells act on vascular endothelial cells and promote a pro-angiogenic phenotype<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These findings suggest that PSMA is not merely expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells, but may also contribute to molecular communication between tumor cells and the surrounding vasculature<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000Watanabe et al. The Prostate 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Prostate Cancer to Renal Cell Carcinoma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PSMA is expressed not only in prostate cancer cells but also in the tumor vasculature of various malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In renal cell carcinoma, we investigate how factors released from cancer cells induce PSMA expression in vascular endothelial cells and promote tumor angiogenesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using high-resolution spatial transcriptomic analysis, we further characterize the molecular features of PSMA-positive tumor vasculature<\/strong> and explore its potential as a predictive marker of tumor recurrence and a novel therapeutic target<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000Watanabe et al. Cells 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PSMA Is More Than Just a \u201cMarker\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PSMA is widely recognized as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in prostate cancer, but its biological role extends far beyond its function as a cell-surface marker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an enzymatically active transmembrane protein<\/strong>, PSMA is involved in glutamate and folate metabolism and has been linked to multiple molecular processes associated with cancer progression, including PI3K\u2013AKT\u2013mTOR signaling, cell adhesion, and angiogenesis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PSMA is also expressed in the tumor-associated endothelium of multiple cancer types<\/strong>, including renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and glioblastoma, in addition to prostate cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, PSMA undergoes internalization and recycling<\/strong> between the cell surface and intracellular compartments. These properties are particularly important for the development of PSMA-based imaging agents, drug delivery systems, and targeted therapies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000Watanabe et al. Mol. Med. Rep 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related Publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prostate-specific membrane antigen: Molecular functions and emerging roles as a therapeutic target (Review)<\/strong>
Watanabe R, Sakaue T, Miura N, Kikugawa T, Saika T.
Mol Med Rep. 2026;33(4):122.<\/em>
PMID: 41789574<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vesicles Secreted by Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells Cause Vascular Endothelial Cells to Express PSMA and Drive Tumor Progression<\/strong>
Watanabe R, Kagimoto K, Chosei M, Sakaue T, Kurata M, Miura N, Kitazawa R, Kikugawa T, Higashiyama S, Saika T.
Cells. 2025;14(3):165.<\/em>
PMID: 39936957<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PSMA-positive membranes secreted from prostate cancer cells have potency to transform vascular endothelial cells into an angiogenic state<\/strong>
Watanabe R, Maekawa M, Kiyoi T, Kurata M, Miura N, Kikugawa T, Higashiyama S, Saika T.
Prostate. 2021;81(16):1390-1401.<\/em>
PMID: 34516672<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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