Human iPSC-derived prostate organoids with germline BRCA2 mutation undergo tumorigenic transformations

Acharya, B. R.; Lawless, G.; Avalos, P.; Anand, P.; Fstkchyan, Y.; Bell, S.; Otero, M. G.; Guillemette, S.; Myers, Z.; Workman, M.; Catalona, W. J.; Theodorescu, D.; Svendsen, C. N.

doi:10.1101/2025.08.26.672478

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.26.672478

Human iPSC-derived prostate organoids with germline BRCA2 mutation undergo tumorigenic transformations

Acharya, B. R.·Lawless, G.·Avalos, P.·Anand, P.·Fstkchyan, Y.·Bell, S.·Otero, M. G.·Guillemette, S.·Myers, Z.·Workman, M.·Catalona, W. J.·Theodorescu, D.·Svendsen, C. N.

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Abstract

The lack of physiologically relevant in vitro prostate models has impeded studies of organ development and prostate tumorigenesis. We reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with and without pathogenic-germline BRCA2 mutation (MUT_BRCA2, CON_BRCA2) into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which showed no differences in morphology, proliferation, or pluripotency markers. Differentiation of MUT_BRCA2 iPSCs into prostate organoids (iPROS) using defined growth factors and signaling molecules resulted in disrupted morphology, impaired polarity, increased proliferation, and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) secretion compared to CON_BRCA2 iPROS. Transcriptomic profiling revealed early prostate cancer (PCa) signatures. Upon exposure to dietary carcinogens, MUT_BRCA2 iPROS showed further PSA elevation, enhanced proliferation, AMACR upregulation, p63 reducetion are markers of aggressive PCa. In vivo, MUT_BRCA2 iPROS formed tumors in immunodeficient mice. This patient-derived iPROS-platform recapitulates human-prostate mopphology and function, models early tumorigenesis events, and provides a valuable tool for studying PCa biology and enabling personalized drug discovery. IN BRIEFIn this study, we developed patients iPSC-derived prostate organoids (iPROS) with or without a pathogenic BRCA2 germline mutation that display human-prostate like morphology and function. MUT_BRCA2 iPROS displayed disrupted morphology, early tumorigenic changes, and formed tumors in mice. Upon carcinogen exposure, they showed markers of aggressive prostate cancer. This platform models early prostate tumorigenesis and enables personalized studies of cancer initiation and therapeutic response.

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Acharya, B. R., Lawless, G., Avalos, P., Anand, P., Fstkchyan, Y., Bell, S., Otero, M. G., Guillemette, S., Myers, Z., Workman, M., Catalona, W. J., Theodorescu, D., Svendsen, C. N.. 2025-08-31. Human iPSC-derived prostate organoids with germline BRCA2 mutation undergo tumorigenic transformations. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.26.672478

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