Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, for which there are no reliable biomarkers or targeted therapies. Here we demonstrate that elevated levels of Δ133TP53β isoform characterize prostate cancers with immune cell infiltration, particularly T cells and CD163+ macrophages. These cancers are associated with shorter progression-free survival, Gleason scores ≥ 7, and an immunosuppressive environment defined by a higher proportion of PD-1, PD-L1 and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) positive cells. Consistent with this, RNA-seq of tumours showed enrichment for pathways associated with immune signalling and cell migration. We further show a role for hypoxia and wild-type p53 in upregulating Δ133TP53 levels. Finally, AUC analysis showed that Δ133TP53β expression level alone predicted aggressive disease with 88% accuracy. Our data identify Δ133TP53β as a highly accurate prognostic factor for aggressive prostate cancer.

Whether HPV is causative of pregnancy complications is uncertain. E6 and E7 affect functions underling preeclampsia (PET) in cultured trophoblasts, but whether E6 and E7 is produced in the placenta is uncertain. Here, we investigated whether E6/E7 was expressed in the placentae from pregnancies with PET, other pregnancy complications (fetal growth restriction (FGR) and diabetes mellitus), and uncomplicated pregnancies. Placental tissues collected from two geographical locations were subjected to RNAscope analyses of high- and low- risk E6/E7, and individual HPV types identified using an HPV array. High-risk E6/E7 expression was increased in both PET cohorts, (81% and 86% of patients positive for high-risk HPV DNA compared to 13% of control patients). Various HPV types were identified. Although HPV 18 was the most frequent in all cohorts, the majority of individuals had multiple HPV types (55% of the PET compared to 25% of the control cohort). Further evidence that E6 and E7 is present early when placental pathology underlying preeclampsia is established, is provided with the finding of high-risk E6/E7 in the first-trimester placenta anchoring trophoblast. In conclusion, E6/E7 expression and multiple HPV types were frequent in placentae from preeclampsia-complicated pregnancies.

The Δ133p53β isoform is increased in many primary tumors and has many tumor-promoting properties that contribute to increased proliferation, migration and inflammation. Here we investigated whether Δ133p53β contributed to some of the most aggressive tumors that had metastasized to the brain. Δ133p53β mRNA expression was measured in lung, breast, melanoma, colorectal metastases and, where available, the matched primary tumor. The presence of Δ133p53β expression was associated with the time for the primary tumor to metastasize and overall survival once the tumor was detected in the brain. Δ133p53β was present in over 50% of lung, breast, melanoma and colorectal metastases to the brain. It was also increased in the brain metastases compared with the matched primary tumor. Brain metastases with Δ133p53β expressed were associated with a reduced time for the primary tumor to metastasize to the brain compared with tumors with no Δ133p53β expression. In-vitro-based analyses in Δ133p53β-expressing cells showed increased cancer-promoting proteins on the cell surface and increased downstream p-AKT and p-MAPK signaling. Δ133p53β-expressing cells also invaded more readily across a mock blood–brain barrier. Together these data suggested that Δ133p53β contributes to brain metastases by making cells more likely to invade the brain.