Pharmacological targets of SGLT2 inhibition on prostate cancer mediated by circulating metabolites: a drug-target Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

BackgroundThe relationship between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and prostate cancer is still unknown. Although these inhibitors can influence tumor glycolysis, the underlying mechanism requires further exploration.MethodsA two-sample two-step MR was used to determine 1) causal effects of SGLT2 inhibition on prostate cancer; 2) causal effects of 1,400 circulating metabolites or metabolite ratios on prostate cancer; and 3) mediation effects of these circulating metabolites. Genetic proxies for SGLT2 inhibition were identified as variants in the SLC5A2 gene and glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c). Additionally, positive control analysis on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was conducted to test the selection of genetic proxies. Phenome Wide Association Study (PheWAS) and MR-PheWAS analysis were used to explore potential treatable diseases and adverse outcomes of SGLT2 inhibitors.ResultsGenetically predicted SGLT2 inhibition (per 1 SD decrement in HbA1c) was associated with reduced risk of T2DM [odds ratio (OR) = 0.66 (95% CI 0.53, 0.82), P = 1.57 × 10−4]; prostate cancer [0.34 (0.23, 0.49), P = 2.21 × 10−8] and prostate-specific antigen [0.26 (0.08, 0.81), P = 2.07 × 10−2]. The effect of SGLT2 inhibition on prostate cancer was mediated by uridine level, with a mediated proportion of 9.34% of the total effect. In MR-PheWAS, 65 traits were found to be associated with SLGT2 inhibitors (P < 1.78 × 10−5), and among them, 13 were related to diabetes.ConclusionOur study suggested that SGLT2 inhibition could lower prostate cancer risk through uridine mediation. More mechanistic and clinical research is necessary to explore how uridine mediates the link between SGLT2 inhibition and prostate cancer.