CRISPR screening reveals SYCP3 as a key driver of metastasis in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent male cancer with high survival rates, except in advanced or metastatic stages, for which effective treatments are lacking. Metastatic PCa involves complex mechanisms including loss of tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair molecules, which impacts therapy responses. We have reanalyzed data from a CRISPR/Cas9 genome wide screening previously performed to identify essential regulators of invasive abilities of the metastatic cell line DU145 identifying SYCP3 as a regulator of metastatic invasion. Subsequent analyses of tumor samples demonstrated that SYCP3 expression is frequently upregulated in PCa tumors from patients in advanced stages. Furthermore, SYCP3 genetic depletion significantly reduced the invasive and migratory abilities of DU145 cells and increased their adhesion capacity. Additionally, and due to the implication of SYCP3 on DNA repair processes, we have analyzed the role of SYCP3 on the cellular response to radiotherapy (RT) and found that its depletion induced RT resistance, suggesting a role for SYCP3 in DNA damage response and genomic instability. All these data support a role for SYCP3 in PCa metastasis and provides opportunities for personalized medicine.