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Nabavi N, Mahdavi SR, Ardalan MA, Chamanara M, Mosaed R, Lara A, Bastos D, Harsini S, Askari E, Velho PI, Bagheri H. Bipolar Androgen Therapy: When Excess Fuel Extinguishes the Fire. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2084. [PMID: 37509723 PMCID: PMC10377678 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the cornerstone of advanced prostate cancer treatment. However, the progression towards castration-resistant prostate cancer is inevitable, as the cancer cells reactivate androgen receptor signaling and adapt to the castrate state through autoregulation of the androgen receptor. Additionally, the upfront use of novel hormonal agents such as enzalutamide and abiraterone acetate may result in long-term toxicities and may trigger the selection of AR-independent cells through "Darwinian" treatment-induced pressure. Therefore, it is crucial to develop new strategies to overcome these challenges. Bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) is one such approach that has been devised based on studies demonstrating the paradoxical inhibitory effects of supraphysiologic testosterone on prostate cancer growth, achieved through a variety of mechanisms acting in concert. BAT involves rapidly alternating testosterone levels between supraphysiological and near-castrate levels over a period of a month, achieved through monthly intramuscular injections of testosterone plus concurrent ADT. BAT is effective and well-tolerated, improving quality of life and potentially re-sensitizing patients to previous hormonal therapies after progression. By exploring the mechanisms and clinical evidence for BAT, this review seeks to shed light on its potential as a promising new approach to prostate cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Nabavi
- Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 13944-91388, Iran
- Radiation Sciences Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
| | - Seied Rabi Mahdavi
- Department of Medical Physics, Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
| | - Mohammad Afshar Ardalan
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
| | - Mohsen Chamanara
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
| | - Reza Mosaed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
| | - Aline Lara
- Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, Brazil
- Hospital do Câncer UOPECCAN, Cascavel 85806-300, Brazil
| | - Diogo Bastos
- Oncology Department, Hospital Sirio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, Brazil
| | - Sara Harsini
- BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Emran Askari
- Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 13944-91388, Iran
| | - Pedro Isaacsson Velho
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre 90035-000, Brazil
| | - Hamed Bagheri
- Radiation Sciences Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14117-18541, Iran
- School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14118-13389, Iran
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Discovery proteomics defines androgen-regulated glycoprotein networks in prostate cancer cells, as well as putative biomarkers of prostatic diseases. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22208. [PMID: 34782677 PMCID: PMC8592995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01554-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Supraphysiologic androgen (SPA) inhibits cell proliferation in prostate cancer (PCa) cells by transcriptional repression of DNA replication and cell-cycle genes. In this study, quantitative glycoprotein profiling identified androgen-regulated glycoprotein networks associated with SPA-mediated inhibition of PCa cell proliferation, and androgen-regulated glycoproteins in clinical prostate tissues. SPA-regulated glycoprotein networks were enriched for translation factors and ribosomal proteins, proteins that are known to be O-GlcNAcylated in response to various cellular stresses. Thus, androgen-regulated glycoproteins are likely to be targeted for O-GlcNAcylation. Comparative analysis of glycosylated proteins in PCa cells and clinical prostate tissue identified androgen-regulated glycoproteins that are differentially expressed prostate tissues at various stages of cancer. Notably, the enzyme ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 5 was found to be an androgen-regulated glycoprotein in PCa cells, with higher expression in cancerous versus non-cancerous prostate tissue. Our glycoproteomics study provides an experimental framework for characterizing androgen-regulated proteins and glycoprotein networks, toward better understanding how this subproteome leads to physiologic and supraphysiologic proliferation responses in PCa cells, and their potential use as druggable biomarkers of dysregulated AR-dependent signaling in PCa cells.
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3
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Thelen P, Taubert H, Duensing S, Kristiansen G, Merseburger AS, Cronauer MV. [The impact of the androgen receptor splice variant AR-V7 on the prognosis and treatment of advanced prostate cancer]. Aktuelle Urol 2020; 51:582-592. [PMID: 29370587 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-115426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A recently discovered mechanism enabling prostate cancer cells to escape the effects of endocrine therapies consists in the synthesis of C-terminally truncated, constitutively active androgen receptor (AR) splice variants (AR-V). Devoid of a functional C-terminal hormone/ligand binding domain, various AR-Vs are insensitive to therapies targeting the androgen/AR signalling axis. Preliminary studies suggest that AR-V7, the most common AR-V, is a promising predictive tumour marker and a relevant selection marker for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This review critically outlines recent advances in AR-V7 diagnostics and presents an overview of current AR-V7 targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Thelen
- Klinik für Urologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen
| | - H. Taubert
- Urologische und Kinderurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen
| | - S. Duensing
- Urologische Klinik, Sektion für Molekulare Uro-Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg
| | - G. Kristiansen
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn
| | - A. S. Merseburger
- Klinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein – Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck
| | - M. V. Cronauer
- Klinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein – Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck
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Seki M, Kajiwara D, Mizutani H, Minamiguchi K. Analysis of novel enzalutamide-resistant cells: upregulation of testis-specific Y-encoded protein gene promotes the expression of androgen receptor splicing variant 7. Transl Cancer Res 2020; 9:6232-6245. [PMID: 35117234 PMCID: PMC8798816 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-1463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Enzalutamide, a second-generation antiandrogen, is an approved medicine for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC); however, the mechanisms behind the resistance are not completely understood. In the present study, we established enzalutamide-resistant cells derived from lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cells and characterized their androgen receptor (AR) status and changes in the gene expression with an aim to elucidate these mechanisms. Methods SAS MDV No. 3–14 enzalutamide-resistant cells were established from LNCaP xenograft castrated male mice under continuous administration of enzalutamide. Then, the AR status and expression of AR target genes were evaluated by western blotting or real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The role of AR in the proliferation was also analyzed using the AR siRNA approach. The gene expression profiling in SAS MDV No. 3–14 cells was evaluated by microarray analysis. The role of testis-specific Y-encoded protein (TSPY), one of the upregulated genes, in the expression of AR and AR target genes and cell growth was also verified using siRNA. Results SAS MDV No. 3–14 cells expressed AR-v7, leading to the increased expression of AR target genes. Gene silencing of AR showed that both AR-FL and AR-v7 function as proliferative drivers in SAS MDV No. 3–14 cells. Microarray analysis revealed that TSPY is upregulated genes in these cells. TSPY siRNA inhibited cell proliferation, decreased the expression of AR-v7 and AR-v7 targeted genes. Conclusions This study demonstrated that SAS MDV No. 3–14 cells increase the expression of AR-v7 by upregulating TSPY, leading to acquired resistance to enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanao Seki
- Discovery and Preclinical Research Division, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kajiwara
- Discovery and Preclinical Research Division, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroya Mizutani
- Discovery and Preclinical Research Division, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Minamiguchi
- Discovery and Preclinical Research Division, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Banuelos CA, Ito Y, Obst JK, Mawji NR, Wang J, Hirayama Y, Leung JK, Tam T, Tien AH, Andersen RJ, Sadar MD. Ralaniten Sensitizes Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer to Ionizing Radiation in Prostate Cancer Cells that Express Androgen Receptor Splice Variants. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071991. [PMID: 32708219 PMCID: PMC7409302 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves the response to radiotherapy for intermediate and high risk prostate cancer. Unfortunately, ADT, antiandrogens, and abiraterone increase expression of constitutively active splice variants of AR (AR-Vs) which regulate DNA damage repair leading to resistance to radiotherapy. Here we investigate whether blocking the transcriptional activities of full-length AR and AR-Vs with ralaniten leads to enhanced sensitivity to radiotherapy. Combination therapies using ralaniten with ionizing radiation were evaluated for effects on proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, DNA damage, and Western blot analyses in human prostate cancer cells that express both full-length AR and AR-Vs. Ralaniten and a potent next-generation analog (EPI-7170) decreased expression of DNA repair genes whereas enzalutamide had no effect. FACS analysis revealed a dose-dependent decrease of BrdU incorporation with increased accumulation of γH2AX with a combination of ionizing radiation with ralaniten. An additive inhibitory effect on proliferation of enzalutamide-resistant cells was achieved with a combination of ralaniten compounds with ionizing radiation. Ralaniten and EPI-7170 sensitized prostate cancer cells that express full-length AR and AR-Vs to radiotherapy whereas enzalutamide had no added benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen A. Banuelos
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Yusuke Ito
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Jon K. Obst
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Nasrin R. Mawji
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Yukiyoshi Hirayama
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Jacky K. Leung
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Teresa Tam
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Amy H. Tien
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
| | - Raymond J. Andersen
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada;
| | - Marianne D. Sadar
- Department of Genome Sciences, British Columbia Cancer, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.A.B.); (Y.I.); (J.K.O.); (N.R.M.); (J.W.); (Y.H.); (J.K.L.); (T.T.); (A.H.T.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z7, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +604-675-8157; Fax: +604-675-8178
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Leone G, Buttigliero C, Pisano C, Di Stefano RF, Tabbò F, Turco F, Vignani F, Scagliotti GV, Di Maio M, Tucci M. Bipolar androgen therapy in prostate cancer: Current evidences and future perspectives. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 152:102994. [PMID: 32480269 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone suppression by androgen deprivation therapy is the cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment. New-generation hormone therapies improved overall survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer. More recent trials showed a further increase in overall survival when enzalutamide or abiraterone are associated with androgen deprivation therapy in hormone-sensitive disease. However, a higher clonal pressure may lead to the upregulation of alternative pathways for cancer progression and to dedifferentiated diseases that would probably respond poorly to subsequent treatments. In this contest, new strategies that could be able to delay or even revert resistance are needed. The bipolar androgen therapy is an under-investigation treatment that consists in periodical oscillation between castration levels and supraphysiological levels of testosterone in order to prevent the adaptation of prostate cancer cells to a low-androgen environment. This review aims to underline the biological rationale of bipolar androgen therapy and gather evidences from the most recent clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Leone
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Consuelo Buttigliero
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
| | - Chiara Pisano
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Rosario Francesco Di Stefano
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tabbò
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Turco
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Vignani
- Division of Medical Oncology, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Magellano 1, 10028 Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Maio
- Division of Medical Oncology, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Magellano 1, 10028 Turin, Italy
| | - Marcello Tucci
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cardinal Massaia Hospital, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Corso Dante Alighieri 202, 14100 Asti, Italy
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7
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Lu C, Brown LC, Antonarakis ES, Armstrong AJ, Luo J. Androgen receptor variant-driven prostate cancer II: advances in laboratory investigations. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2020; 23:381-397. [PMID: 32139878 PMCID: PMC7725416 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-020-0217-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is a key prostate cancer drug target.
Suppression of AR signaling mediated by the full-length AR (AR-FL) is the
therapeutic goal of all existing AR-directed therapies. AR-targeting agents
impart therapeutic benefit, but lead to AR aberrations that underlie disease
progression and therapeutic resistance. Among the AR aberrations specific to
castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), AR variants (AR-Vs) have
emerged as important indicators of disease progression and therapeutic
resistance. Methods: We conducted a systemic review of the literature focusing on recent
laboratory studies on AR-Vs following our last review article published in
2016. Topics ranged from measurement and detection, molecular origin,
regulation, genomic function, and preclinical therapeutic targeting of
AR-Vs. We provide expert opinions and perspectives on these topics. Results: Transcript sequences for 22 AR-Vs have been reported in the
literature. Different AR-Vs may arise through different mechanisms, and can
be regulated by splicing factors and dictated by genomic rearrangements, but
a low-androgen environment is a prerequisite for generation of AR-Vs. The
unique transcript structures allowed development of in-situ and in-solution
measurement and detection methods, including mRNA and protein detection, in
both tissue and blood specimens. AR variant-7 (AR-V7) remains the main
measurement target and the most extensively characterized AR-V. Although
AR-V7 co-exists with AR-FL, genomic functions mediated by AR-V7 do not
require the presence of AR-FL. The distinct cistromes and transcriptional
programs directed by AR-V7 and their co-regulators are consistent with
genomic features of progressive disease in a low-androgen environment.
Preclinical development of AR-V-directed agents currently focuses on
suppression of mRNA expression and protein degradation as well as targeting
of the amino-terminal domain. Conclusions: Current literature continues to support AR-Vs as biomarkers and
therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. Laboratory investigations reveal
both challenges and opportunities in targeting AR-Vs to overcome resistance
to current AR-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxue Lu
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Landon C Brown
- Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Divisions of Medical Oncology and Urology, Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emmanuel S Antonarakis
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Departments of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew J Armstrong
- Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Divisions of Medical Oncology and Urology, Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jun Luo
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Departments of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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8
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Szalai B, Subramanian V, Holland CH, Alföldi R, Puskás LG, Saez-Rodriguez J. Signatures of cell death and proliferation in perturbation transcriptomics data-from confounding factor to effective prediction. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10010-10026. [PMID: 31552418 PMCID: PMC6821211 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional perturbation signatures are valuable data sources for functional genomics. Linking perturbation signatures to screenings opens the possibility to model cellular phenotypes from expression data and to identify efficacious drugs. We linked perturbation transcriptomics data from the LINCS-L1000 project with cell viability information upon genetic (Achilles project) and chemical (CTRP screen) perturbations yielding more than 90 000 signature–viability pairs. An integrated analysis showed that the cell viability signature is a major factor underlying perturbation signatures. The signature is linked to transcription factors regulating cell death, proliferation and division time. We used the cell viability–signature relationship to predict viability from transcriptomics signatures, and identified and validated compounds that induce cell death in tumor cell lines. We showed that cellular toxicity can lead to unexpected similarity of signatures, confounding mechanism of action discovery. Consensus compound signatures predicted cell-specific drug sensitivity, even if the signature is not measured in the same cell line, and outperformed conventional drug-specific features. Our results can help in understanding mechanisms behind cell death and removing confounding factors of transcriptomic perturbation screens. To interactively browse our results and predict cell viability in new gene expression samples, we developed CEVIChE (CEll VIability Calculator from gene Expression; https://saezlab.shinyapps.io/ceviche/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bence Szalai
- RWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Medicine, Joint Research Centre for Computational Biomedicine (JRC-COMBINE), 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vigneshwari Subramanian
- RWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Medicine, Joint Research Centre for Computational Biomedicine (JRC-COMBINE), 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian H Holland
- RWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Medicine, Joint Research Centre for Computational Biomedicine (JRC-COMBINE), 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute of Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Julio Saez-Rodriguez
- RWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Medicine, Joint Research Centre for Computational Biomedicine (JRC-COMBINE), 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute of Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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9
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Joncas FH, Lucien F, Rouleau M, Morin F, Leong HS, Pouliot F, Fradet Y, Gilbert C, Toren P. Plasma extracellular vesicles as phenotypic biomarkers in prostate cancer patients. Prostate 2019; 79:1767-1776. [PMID: 31475741 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of phenotypic biomarkers to aid the selection of treatment for patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is an important priority. Plasma exosomes have excellent potential as real-time biomarkers to characterize the tumor because they are easily accessible in the blood and contain DNA, RNA, and protein from the parent cell. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of putative prostate-specific plasma extracellular vesicle (EV) markers and their relationship with clinical outcomes. METHODS AND PATIENTS We investigated plasma EVs in a total of 89 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) at different stages of disease progression. EVs were isolated using both precipitation and ultracentrifugation methods; physical characterization was performed using dynamic light scattering, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and velocity gradients. An immunocapture method was developed for the evaluation of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive exosomes. Exosomal messenger RNA (mRNA) was quantified using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction for the expression of KLK3 and androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) genes, which code prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and AR-V7, respectively. Serum sex steroids were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. RESULTS Isolated exosomes from patients with CRPC had a smaller hydrodynamic size than those isolated from localized patients with PCa, while AChE activity showed no difference. Moreover, no differences were observed after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy in serial patient samples. Velocity gradients identified that PSMA-positive exosomes occupied a specific fraction of isolated EVs. A total of 35 patients with CRPC had mRNA analyzed from isolated plasma exosomes. Detectable exosomal KLK3 corresponded with higher concomitant serum PSA measurements, as expected (mean, 112.6 vs 26.61 ng/mL; P = .065). Furthermore, detectable levels of AR-V7 mRNA were associated with a shorter time to progression (median, 16.0 vs 28.0 months; P = .0499). Furthermore, detectable exosomal AR-V7 was significantly associated with testosterone levels below the lower limit of quantification (<0.1 nM). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that exosomal AR-V7 is correlated with lower sex steroid levels in CRPC patients with a poorer prognosis. PSMA immunocapture does not appear sufficient to isolate PCa-specific exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- France-Hélène Joncas
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fabrice Lucien
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mélanie Rouleau
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fannie Morin
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hon Sing Leong
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Frédéric Pouliot
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yves Fradet
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caroline Gilbert
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Toren
- Oncology Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec,- Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Honda M, Kimura T, Kamata Y, Tashiro K, Kimura S, Koike Y, Sato S, Yorozu T, Furusato B, Takahashi H, Kiyota H, Egawa S. Differential expression of androgen receptor variants in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer xenografts, castration-resistant sublines, and patient specimens according to the treatment sequence. Prostate 2019; 79:1043-1052. [PMID: 30998834 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen receptor variants (AR-vs), especially AR-v7 and AR-v 5, 6, and 7 exon-skipped (AR-v567es), are reportedly key players in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We previously established a mouse xenograft model (JDCaP) from a metastatic skin lesion from a Japanese patient with CRPC and that was revealed to exhibit androgen sensitivity. In the present study, we established multiple castration-resistant xenograft models from JDCaP mice to investigate the biological features of CRPC. METHODS Tissue from JDCaP mice was transplanted into male and female nude mice, and after serial passaging, castration-resistant sublines (JDCaP-CR2M and JDCaP-CR4M in male mice, JDCaP-CR2F and JDCaP-CR4F in female mice) were established. We investigated anti-androgen and testosterone sensitivity and the messenger RNA expression pattern of full-length AR and AR-vs. In addition, we compared AR protein levels of patient specimens among primary, local-recurrent, and two skin-metastatic tumors. RESULTS All JDCaP-CR sublines showed continuous growth following the administration of bicalutamide, although the effects of testosterone varied among sublines. Parental JDCaP and JDCaP-CR2M, JDCaP-CR4M, and JDCaP-CR4F sublines expressed AR-v7, whereas JDCaP-CR2F exhibited elevated AR-v567es expression resulting from genomic deletion, which was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Moreover, we confirmed AR-v7 expression in the tumor of the original patient after androgen-deprivation therapy. CONCLUSIONS Each JDCaP-CR subline showed different AR-v-expression patterns, with JDCaP-CR2F expressing AR-v567es due to genomic deletion. Our results indicated that AR-vs emerged after androgen-deprivation therapy and appeared essential for acquisition of castration resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Honda
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kimura
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Kamata
- Division of Oncology, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kojiro Tashiro
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoji Kimura
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Koike
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shun Sato
- Department of Pathology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Yorozu
- Department of Pathology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bungo Furusato
- Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyota
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Egawa
- Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Mohammad OS, Nyquist MD, Schweizer MT, Balk SP, Corey E, Plymate S, Nelson PS, Mostaghel EA. Supraphysiologic Testosterone Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer: Models, Mechanisms and Questions. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:E166. [PMID: 29210989 PMCID: PMC5742814 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9120166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since Huggins defined the androgen-sensitive nature of prostate cancer (PCa), suppression of systemic testosterone (T) has remained the most effective initial therapy for advanced disease although progression inevitably occurs. From the inception of clinical efforts to suppress androgen receptor (AR) signaling by reducing AR ligands, it was also recognized that administration of T in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) could result in substantial clinical responses. Data from preclinical models have reproducibly shown biphasic responses to T administration, with proliferation at low androgen concentrations and growth inhibition at supraphysiological T concentrations. Many questions regarding the biphasic response of PCa to androgen treatment remain, primarily regarding the mechanisms driving these responses and how best to exploit the biphasic phenomenon clinically. Here we review the preclinical and clinical data on high dose androgen growth repression and discuss cellular pathways and mechanisms likely to be involved in mediating this response. Although meaningful clinical responses have now been observed in men with PCa treated with high dose T, not all men respond, leading to questions regarding which tumor characteristics promote response or resistance, and highlighting the need for studies designed to determine the molecular mechanism(s) driving these responses and identify predictive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama S Mohammad
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
- Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt.
| | | | - Michael T Schweizer
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Stephen P Balk
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Stephen Plymate
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Peter S Nelson
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Elahe A Mostaghel
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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12
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Nakata D, Koyama R, Nakayama K, Kitazawa S, Watanabe T, Hara T. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitors suppress the AR-V7-mediated transcription and selectively inhibit cell growth in AR-V7-positive prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2017; 77:955-961. [PMID: 28397338 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that androgen receptor (AR) splice variants, including AR-V7, play a pivotal role in resistance to androgen blockade in prostate cancer treatment. The development of new therapeutic agents that can suppress the transcriptional activities of AR splice variants has been anticipated as the next generation treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. METHODS High-throughput screening of AR-V7 signaling inhibitors was performed using an AR-V7 reporter system. The effects of a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitor, LY-2090314, on endogenous AR-V7 signaling were evaluated in an AR-V7-positive cell line, JDCaP-hr, by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between AR-V7 signaling and β-catenin signaling was assessed using RNA interference. The effect of LY-2090314 on cell growth in various prostate cancer cell lines was also evaluated. RESULTS We identified GSK3 inhibitors as transcriptional suppressors of AR-V7 using a high-throughput screen with an AR-V7 reporter system. LY-2090314 suppressed the reporter activity and endogenous AR-V7 activity in JDCaP-hr cells. Because silencing of β-catenin partly rescued the suppression, it was evident that the suppression was mediated, at least partially, via the activation of β-catenin signaling. AR-V7 signaling and β-catenin signaling reciprocally regulate each other in JDCaP-hr cells, and therefore, GSK3 inhibition can repress AR-V7 transcriptional activity by accumulating intracellular β-catenin. Notably, LY-2090314 selectively inhibited the growth of AR-V7-positive prostate cancer cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the potential of GSK3 inhibitors in treating advanced prostate cancer driven by AR splice variants. In vivo evaluation of AR splice variant-positive prostate cancer models will help illustrate the overall significance of GSK3 inhibitors in treating prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Nakata
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ryokichi Koyama
- Biomolecular Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Nakayama
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kitazawa
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Watanabe
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takahito Hara
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
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13
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Nakata D, Nakao S, Nakayama K, Araki S, Nakayama Y, Aparicio S, Hara T, Nakanishi A. The RNA helicase DDX39B and its paralog DDX39A regulate androgen receptor splice variant AR-V7 generation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 483:271-276. [PMID: 28025139 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that constitutively active androgen receptor (AR) splice variants, typified by AR-V7, are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer patients. However, mechanisms governing the generation of AR splice variants are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamics of AR splice variant generation using the JDCaP prostate cancer model that expresses AR splice variants under androgen depletion. Microarray analysis of JDCaP xenografts before and after expression of AR splice variants suggested that dysregulation of RNA processing pathways is likely involved in AR splice variant generation. To explore factors contributing to generation of AR-V7 mRNA, we conducted a focused RNA interference screen in AR-V7-positive JDCaP-hr cells using an shRNA library targeting spliceosome-related genes. This screen identified DDX39B as a regulator of AR-V7 mRNA expression. Simultaneous knockdown of DDX39B and its paralog DDX39A drastically and selectively downregulated AR-V7 mRNA expression in multiple AR-V7-positive prostate cancer cell lines. DDX39B was upregulated in relapsed JDCaP xenografts expressing AR splice variants, suggesting its role in expression of AR splice variants. Taken together, our findings offer insight into the mechanisms of AR splice variant generation and identify DDX39 as a potential drug target for the treatment of AR splice variant-positive prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Nakata
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Shoichi Nakao
- Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan; Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Nakayama
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Araki
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan; Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nakayama
- Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan; Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Samuel Aparicio
- Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan; BC Cancer Agency, Department of Molecular Oncology, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada; University of British Columbia, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Takahito Hara
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Nakanishi
- Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan; Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan.
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