1
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Khan S, Baligar P, Tandon C, Nayyar J, Tandon S. Molecular heterogeneity in prostate cancer and the role of targeted therapy. Life Sci 2024; 336:122270. [PMID: 37979833 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Data collected from large-scale studies has shown that the incidence of prostate cancer globally is on the rise, which could be attributed to an overall increase in lifespan. So, the question is how has modern science with all its new technologies and clinical breakthroughs mitigated or managed this disease? The answer is not a simple one as prostate cancer exhibits various subtypes, each with its unique characteristics or signatures which creates challenges in treatment. To understand the complexity of prostate cancer these signatures must be deciphered. Molecular studies of prostate cancer samples have identified certain genetic and epigenetic alterations, which are instrumental in tumorigenesis. Some of these candidates include the androgen receptor (AR), various oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and the tumor microenvironment, which serve as major drivers that lead to cancer progression. These aberrant genes and their products can give an insight into prostate cancer development and progression by acting as potent markers to guide future therapeutic approaches. Thus, understanding the complexity of prostate cancer is crucial for targeting specific markers and tailoring treatments accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabiha Khan
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prakash Baligar
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Chanderdeep Tandon
- Amity School of Biological Sciences, Amity University Punjab, Mohali, India
| | - Jasamrit Nayyar
- Department of Chemistry, Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharam College, Chandigarh, India
| | - Simran Tandon
- Amity School of Health Sciences, Amity University Punjab, Mohali, India.
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2
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Yi Q, Liu W, Seo JH, Su J, Alaoui-Jamali MA, Luo J, Lin R, Wu JH. Discovery of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting the Androgen Receptor N-Terminal Domain for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:570-582. [PMID: 37139712 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The current mainstay therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer is to suppress androgen receptor (AR) signaling. However, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) invariably arises with restored AR signaling activity. To date, the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) is the only targeted region for all clinically available AR signaling antagonists, such as enzalutamide (ENZ). Major resistance mechanisms have been uncovered to sustain the AR signaling in CRPC despite these treatments, including AR amplification, AR LBD mutants, and the emergence of AR splice variants (AR-Vs) such as AR-V7. AR-V7 is a constitutively active truncated form of AR that lacks the LBD; thus, it can not be inhibited by AR LBD-targeting drugs. Therefore, an approach to inhibit AR through the regions outside of LBD is urgently needed. In this study, we have discovered a novel small molecule SC428, which directly binds to the AR N-terminal domain (NTD) and exhibits pan-AR inhibitory effect. SC428 potently decreased the transactivation of AR-V7, ARv567es, as well as full-length AR (AR-FL) and its LBD mutants. SC428 substantially suppressed androgen-stimulated AR-FL nuclear translocation, chromatin binding, and AR-regulated gene transcription. Moreover, SC428 also significantly attenuated AR-V7-mediated AR signaling that does not rely on androgen, hampered AR-V7 nuclear localization, and disrupted AR-V7 homodimerization. SC428 inhibited in vitro proliferation and in vivo tumor growth of cells that expressed a high level of AR-V7 and were unresponsive to ENZ treatment. Together, these results indicated the potential therapeutic benefits of AR-NTD targeting for overcoming drug resistance in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Yi
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Weiguo Liu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jung Hwa Seo
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jie Su
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Moulay A Alaoui-Jamali
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jun Luo
- Urology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rongtuan Lin
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jian Hui Wu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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3
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Congregado Ruiz B, Rivero Belenchón I, Lendínez Cano G, Medina López RA. Strategies to Re-Sensitize Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer to Antiandrogen Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041105. [PMID: 37189723 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041105] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Since prostate cancer (PCa) was described as androgen-dependent, the androgen receptor (AR) has become the mainstay of its systemic treatment: androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Although, through recent years, more potent drugs have been incorporated, this chronic AR signaling inhibition inevitably led the tumor to an incurable phase of castration resistance. However, in the castration-resistant status, PCa cells remain highly dependent on the AR signaling axis, and proof of it is that many men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) still respond to newer-generation AR signaling inhibitors (ARSis). Nevertheless, this response is limited in time, and soon, the tumor develops adaptive mechanisms that make it again nonresponsive to these treatments. For this reason, researchers are focused on searching for new alternatives to control these nonresponsive tumors, such as: (1) drugs with a different mechanism of action, (2) combination therapies to boost synergies, and (3) agents or strategies to resensitize tumors to previously addressed targets. Taking advantage of the wide variety of mechanisms that promote persistent or reactivated AR signaling in CRPC, many drugs explore this last interesting behavior. In this article, we will review those strategies and drugs that are able to resensitize cancer cells to previously used treatments through the use of "hinge" treatments with the objective of obtaining an oncological benefit. Some examples are: bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) and drugs such as indomethacin, niclosamide, lapatinib, panobinostat, clomipramine, metformin, and antisense oligonucleotides. All of them have shown, in addition to an inhibitory effect on PCa, the rewarding ability to overcome acquired resistance to antiandrogenic agents in CRPC, resensitizing the tumor cells to previously used ARSis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Congregado Ruiz
- Urology and Nephrology Department, Biomedical Institute of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Inés Rivero Belenchón
- Urology and Nephrology Department, Biomedical Institute of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Guillermo Lendínez Cano
- Urology and Nephrology Department, Biomedical Institute of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael Antonio Medina López
- Urology and Nephrology Department, Biomedical Institute of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
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4
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Wang L, Gong S, Zhang X, Azhar Z, Chen J. Investigation of the regulatory effects of synthesized antisense oligonucleotides on androgen receptor (AR) exon 3 splicing in prostate cancer cells. Gene 2023; 866:147330. [PMID: 36871670 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147330] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The Androgen Receptor (AR) gene plays a key role in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Controlling the progression of CRPC by inhibiting AR gene expression is one of the core directions for prostate cancer (Pca) drug development. A 23-amino acids retention, named exon 3a, into the DNA binding domain of the splice variant AR23 has been shown to prevent AR from entering the nucleus and restore the sensitivity of cancer cells to related therapies. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation of the splicing modulation of the AR gene in order to develop a splice-switching therapy for Pca by promoting exon 3a inclusion. Using mutagenesis-coupled RT-PCR with AR minigene and over-expression of certain splicing factors, we found that serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are key factors facilitating the recognition of the 3' splice site of exon 3a (L-3' SS), while the deletion or blocking of the polypyrimidine tract (PPT) region of the original 3' splice site of exon 3 (S-3' SS) could strongly enhance exon 3a splicing without affecting the function of any SR protein. Furthermore, we designed a series of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to screen drug candidates, and ASOs targeting S-3' SS and its PPT region or the exonic region of exon 3 turned out to be most effective in rescuing exon 3a splicing. A dose-response test indicated ASO12 as the lead candidate drug significantly promoting the inclusion of exon 3a to more than 85%. MTT assay confirmed that the cell proliferation was significantly inhibited after ASO treatment. Our results provide the first glance to AR splicing regulation. With several promising therapeutic ASO candidates obtained here, further development of ASO drugs to treat CRPC is strongly encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shuaishuai Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zeb Azhar
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jialin Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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5
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Modulating the Activity of Androgen Receptor for Treating Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315342. [PMID: 36499670 PMCID: PMC9739178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid hormone receptor widely detected in breast cancer. Evidence suggests that the AR might be a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor alpha-positive (ERα+ve) breast cancer but a tumor promoter in estrogen receptor alpha-negative (ERα-ve) breast cancer. Modulating AR activity could be a potential strategy for treating breast cancer. For ERα+ve breast cancer, activation of the AR had been demonstrated to suppress the disease. In contrast, for ERα-ve breast cancer, blocking the AR could confer better prognosis to patients. These studies support the feasibility of utilizing AR modulators as anti-cancer drugs for different subtypes of breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, several issues still need to be addressed, such as the lack of standardization in the determination of AR positivity and the presence of AR splice variants. In future, the inclusion of the AR status in the breast cancer report at the time of diagnosis might help improve disease classification and treatment decision, thereby providing additional treatment strategies for breast cancer.
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6
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Constitutively Active Androgen Receptor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213768. [PMID: 36430245 PMCID: PMC9699340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. It is also a sexually dimorphic disease with a male predominance both in HCC and in its precursors, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in HCC has been well documented; however, AR-targeted therapies have failed to demonstrate efficacy in HCC. Building upon understandings of AR in prostate cancer (PCa), this review examines the role of AR in HCC, non-androgen-mediated mechanisms of induced AR expression, the existence of AR splice variants (AR-SV) in HCC and concludes by surveying current AR-targeted therapeutic approaches in PCa that show potential for efficacy in HCC in light of AR-SV expression.
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7
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Targeting a splicing-mediated drug resistance mechanism in prostate cancer by inhibiting transcriptional regulation by PKCβ1. Oncogene 2022; 41:1536-1549. [PMID: 35087237 PMCID: PMC8913362 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02179-z] [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: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a central driver of aggressive prostate cancer. After initial treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi), reactivation of AR signaling leads to resistance. Alternative splicing of AR mRNA yields the AR-V7 splice variant, which is currently an undruggable mechanism of ARSi resistance: AR-V7 lacks a ligand binding domain, where hormones and anti-androgen antagonists act, but still activates AR signaling. We reveal PKCβ as a druggable regulator of transcription and splicing at the AR genomic locus. We identify a clinical PKCβ inhibitor in combination with an FDA-approved anti-androgen as an approach for repressing AR genomic locus expression, including expression of AR-V7, while antagonizing full-length AR. PKCβ inhibition reduces total AR gene expression, thus reducing AR-V7 protein levels and sensitizing prostate cancer cells to current anti-androgen therapies. We demonstrate that this combination may be a viable therapeutic strategy for AR-V7-positive prostate cancer.
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Crowley F, Sterpi M, Buckley C, Margetich L, Handa S, Dovey Z. A Review of the Pathophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Res Rep Urol 2021; 13:457-472. [PMID: 34235102 PMCID: PMC8256377 DOI: 10.2147/rru.s264722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy or ADT is one of the cornerstones of management of locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, alongside radiation therapy. However, despite early response, most advanced prostate cancers progress into an androgen unresponsive or castrate resistant state, which hitherto remains an incurable entity and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men in the US. Recent advances have uncovered multiple complex and intermingled mechanisms underlying this transformation. While most of these mechanisms revolve around androgen receptor (AR) signaling, novel pathways which act independently of the androgen axis are also being discovered. The aim of this article is to review the pathophysiological mechanisms that help bypass the apoptotic effects of ADT to create castrate resistance. The article discusses castrate resistance mechanisms under two categories: 1. Direct AR dependent pathways such as amplification or gain of function mutations in AR, development of functional splice variants, posttranslational regulation, and pro-oncogenic modulation in the expression of coactivators vs corepressors of AR. 2. Ancillary pathways involving RAS/MAP kinase, TGF-beta/SMAD pathway, FGF signaling, JAK/STAT pathway, Wnt-Beta catenin and hedgehog signaling as well as the role of cell adhesion molecules and G-protein coupled receptors. miRNAs are also briefly discussed. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the development and progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer is paramount to the development of targeted agents to overcome these mechanisms. A number of targeted agents are currently in development. As we strive for more personalized treatment across oncology care, treatment regimens will need to be tailored based on the type of CRPC and the underlying mechanism of castration resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fionnuala Crowley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Sterpi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Conor Buckley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Margetich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shivani Handa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zach Dovey
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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9
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Cao H, Wang D, Gao R, Chen L, Feng Y. Down regulation of U2AF1 promotes ARV7 splicing and prostate cancer progression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 541:56-62. [PMID: 33477033 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.12.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the roles of U2 Small Nuclear RNA Auxiliary Factor 1 (U2AF1) in the resistance to anti-androgen treatment in prostate cancer and its underlying mechanism. U2AF1 and androgen receptor variant 7 (ARV7) knockdown and overexpression were introduced in PC3 and DU145 cells. In addition, a bicalutamide-resistant PC3 (PC3 BR) cell line was also constructed. Cell count, MTT and soft agar colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. qRT-PCR was applied to determine the mRNA levels of U2AF1, ARV7 and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 (MAPK1). Western blot was used to determine the MAPK1 protein expression. A negative correlation between ARV7 and U2AF1 in prostate tumor tissues was observed. U2AF1 downregulation was correlated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients. U2AF1 exhibited a negative correlation with ARV7 and its downregulation promoted prostate cancer cell proliferation and bicalutamide resistance. The regulatory effects of U2AF1 on ARV7 splicing were associated with MAPK1. U2AF1 affected prostate cancer proliferation and anti-androgen resistance by regulating ARV7 splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwen Cao
- Surgical Department I (Urology Department), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 Wanping Road South, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Surgical Department I (Urology Department), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 Wanping Road South, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Renjie Gao
- Surgical Department I (Urology Department), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 Wanping Road South, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Surgical Department I (Urology Department), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 Wanping Road South, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yigeng Feng
- Surgical Department I (Urology Department), Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 Wanping Road South, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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10
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Moon SJ, Jeong BC, Kim HJ, Lim JE, Kim HJ, Kwon GY, Jackman JA, Kim JH. Bruceantin targets HSP90 to overcome resistance to hormone therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:958-973. [PMID: 33391515 PMCID: PMC7738850 DOI: 10.7150/thno.51478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Aberrant androgen receptor (AR) signaling via full-length AR (AR-FL) and constitutively active AR variant 7 (AR-V7) plays a key role in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and resistance to hormone therapies. Simultaneous targeting of AR-FL and AR-V7 may be a promising strategy to overcome resistance to hormone therapy. This study aimed to identify novel drug candidates co-targeting AR-FL and AR-V7 activities and elucidate their molecular mechanism of anti-CRPC activities. Methods: Using a CRPC cell-based reporter assay system, we screened a small library of antimalarial agents to explore the possibility of repositioning them for CRPC treatment and identified bruceantin (BCT) as a potent anti-CRPC drug candidate. A series of cell-based, molecular, biochemical, and in vivo approaches were performed to evaluate the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of BCT in CRPC. These approaches include reporter gene assays, cell proliferation, RNA-seq, qRT-PCR, mouse xenografts, co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, immobilized BCT pull-down, molecular modeling, and bioinformatic analyses. Results: We identified BCT as a highly potent inhibitor co-targeting AR-FL and AR-V7 activity. BCT inhibits the transcriptional activity of AR-FL/AR-V7 and downregulates their target genes in CRPC cells. In addition, BCT efficiently suppresses tumor growth and metastasis of CRPC cells. Mechanistically, BCT disrupts the interaction of HSP90 with AR-FL/AR-V7 by directly binding to HSP90 and inhibits HSP90 chaperone function, leading to degradation of AR-FL/AR-V7 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Clinically, HSP90 expression is upregulated and correlated with AR/AR-V7 levels in CRPC. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that BCT could serve as a promising therapeutic candidate against CRPC and highlight the potential benefit of targeting AR-FL/AR-V7-HSP90 axis to overcome resistance caused by aberrant AR-FL/AR-V7 signaling.
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11
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Lee GT, Nagaya N, Desantis J, Madura K, Sabaawy HE, Kim WJ, Vaz RJ, Cruciani G, Kim IY. Effects of MTX-23, a Novel PROTAC of Androgen Receptor Splice Variant-7 and Androgen Receptor, on CRPC Resistant to Second-Line Antiandrogen Therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 20:490-499. [PMID: 33277442 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although second-line antiandrogen therapy (SAT) is the standard of care in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), resistance inevitably occurs. One major proposed mechanism of resistance to SAT involves the emergence of androgen receptor (AR) splice variant-7, AR-V7. Recently, we developed MTX-23 using the principle of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) to target both AR-V7 and AR-full length (AR-FL). MTX-23 has been designed to simultaneously bind AR's DNA binding domain (DBD) and the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase. Immunoblots demonstrated that MTX-23's degradation concentration 50% (DC50) for AR-V7 and AR-FL was 0.37 and 2 μmol/L, respectively. Further studies revealed that MTX-23 inhibited prostate cancer cellular proliferation and increased apoptosis only in androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells. The antiproliferative effect of MTX-23 was partially reversed when either AR-V7 or AR-FL was overexpressed and was completely abrogated when both were overexpressed. To assess the potential therapeutic value of MTX-23, we next generated 12 human prostate cancer cell lines that are resistant to the four FDA-approved SAT agents-abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide. When resistant cells were treated with MTX-23, decreased cellular proliferation and reduced tumor growth were observed both in vitro and in mice. These results collectively suggest that MTX-23 is a novel PROTAC small molecule that may be effective against SAT-resistant CRPC by degrading both AR-V7 and AR-FL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geun Taek Lee
- Section of Urologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and Division of Urology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Naoya Nagaya
- Section of Urologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and Division of Urology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Jenny Desantis
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Kiran Madura
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Hatem E Sabaawy
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Wun-Jae Kim
- Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Roy J Vaz
- Montelino Therapeutics, LLC, Southborough, Massachusetts
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Isaac Yi Kim
- Section of Urologic Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and Division of Urology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
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12
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Carceles-Cordon M, Kelly WK, Gomella L, Knudsen KE, Rodriguez-Bravo V, Domingo-Domenech J. Cellular rewiring in lethal prostate cancer: the architect of drug resistance. Nat Rev Urol 2020; 17:292-307. [PMID: 32203305 PMCID: PMC7218925 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-020-0298-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 5 years, the advent of combination therapeutic strategies has substantially reshaped the clinical management of patients with advanced prostate cancer. However, most of these combination regimens were developed empirically and, despite offering survival benefits, are not enough to halt disease progression. Thus, the development of effective therapeutic strategies that target the mechanisms involved in the acquisition of drug resistance and improve clinical trial design are an unmet clinical need. In this context, we hypothesize that the tumour engineers a dynamic response through the process of cellular rewiring, in which it adapts to the therapy used and develops mechanisms of drug resistance via downstream signalling of key regulatory cascades such as the androgen receptor, PI3K-AKT or GATA2-dependent pathways, as well as initiation of biological processes to revert tumour cells to undifferentiated aggressive states via phenotype switching towards a neuroendocrine phenotype or acquisition of stem-like properties. These dynamic responses are specific for each patient and could be responsible for treatment failure despite multi-target approaches. Understanding the common stages of these cellular rewiring mechanisms to gain a new perspective on the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance might help formulate novel combination therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Carceles-Cordon
- Medical Oncology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - W Kevin Kelly
- Medical Oncology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leonard Gomella
- Urology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karen E Knudsen
- Medical Oncology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Urology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Cancer Biology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo
- Cancer Biology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Josep Domingo-Domenech
- Medical Oncology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Cancer Biology Department, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Saranyutanon S, Srivastava SK, Pai S, Singh S, Singh AP. Therapies Targeted to Androgen Receptor Signaling Axis in Prostate Cancer: Progress, Challenges, and Hope. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 12:cancers12010051. [PMID: 31877956 PMCID: PMC7016833 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the mostly commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death affecting men in the United States. Moreover, it disproportionately affects the men of African origin, who exhibit significantly greater incidence and mortality as compared to the men of European origin. Since androgens play an important role in the growth of normal prostate and prostate tumors, targeting of androgen signaling has remained a mainstay for the treatment of aggressive prostate cancer. Over the years, multiple approaches have been evaluated to effectively target the androgen signaling pathway that include direct targeting of the androgens, androgen receptor (AR), AR co-regulators or other alternate mechanisms that impact the outcome of androgen signaling. Several of these approaches are currently in clinical practice, while some are still pending further development and clinical evaluation. This remarkable progress has resulted from extensive laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical efforts, and mechanistic learnings from the therapeutic success and failures. In this review, we describe the importance of androgen signaling in prostate cancer biology and advances made over the years to effectively target this signaling pathway. We also discuss emerging data on the resistance pathways associated with the failure of various androgen signaling- targeted therapies and potential of this knowledge for translation into future therapies for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirin Saranyutanon
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36617, USA; (S.S.)
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36617, USA; (S.S.)
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (A.P.S.); Tel.: +1-251-445-9874 (S.K.S.); +1-251-445-9843 (A.P.S.)
| | - Sachin Pai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA;
| | - Seema Singh
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36617, USA; (S.S.)
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Ajay Pratap Singh
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36617, USA; (S.S.)
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (A.P.S.); Tel.: +1-251-445-9874 (S.K.S.); +1-251-445-9843 (A.P.S.)
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Senapati D, Kumari S, Heemers HV. Androgen receptor co-regulation in prostate cancer. Asian J Urol 2019; 7:219-232. [PMID: 32742924 PMCID: PMC7385509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) progression relies on androgen receptor (AR) action. Preventing AR's ligand-activation is the frontline treatment for metastatic PCa. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) that inhibits AR ligand-binding initially induces remission but eventually fails, mainly because of adaptive PCa responses that restore AR action. The vast majority of castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) continues to rely on AR activity. Novel therapeutic strategies are being explored that involve targeting other critical AR domains such as those that mediate its constitutively active transactivation function, its DNA binding ability, or its interaction with co-operating transcriptional regulators. Considerable molecular and clinical variability has been found in AR's interaction with its ligands, DNA binding motifs, and its associated coregulators and transcription factors. Here, we review evidence that each of these levels of AR regulation can individually and differentially impact transcription by AR. In addition, we examine emerging insights suggesting that each can also impact the other, and that all three may collaborate to induce gene-specific AR target gene expression, likely via AR allosteric effects. For the purpose of this review, we refer to the modulating influence of these differential and/or interdependent contributions of ligands, cognate DNA-binding motifs and critical regulatory protein interactions on AR's transcriptional output, which may influence the efficiency of the novel PCa therapeutic approaches under consideration, as co-regulation of AR activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sangeeta Kumari
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Hannelore V Heemers
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Di Donato M, Cernera G, Migliaccio A, Castoria G. Nerve Growth Factor Induces Proliferation and Aggressiveness In Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E784. [PMID: 31174415 PMCID: PMC6627659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to hormone therapy and disease progression is the major challenge in clinical management of prostate cancer (PC). Drugs currently used in PC therapy initially show a potent antitumor effects, but PC gradually develops resistance, relapses and spreads. Most patients who fail primary therapy and have recurrences eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is almost incurable. The nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on a variety of non-neuronal cells by activating the NGF tyrosine-kinase receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA). NGF signaling is deregulated in PC. In androgen-dependent PC cells, TrkA mediates the proliferative action of NGF through its crosstalk with the androgen receptor (AR). Epithelial PC cells, however, acquire the ability to express NGF and TrkA, as the disease progresses, indicating a role for NGF/TrkA axis in PC progression and androgen-resistance. We here report that once activated by NGF, TrkA mediates proliferation, invasiveness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various CRPC cells. NGF promotes organoid growth in 3D models of CRPC cells, and specific inhibition of TrkA impairs all these responses. Thus TrkA represents a new biomarker to target in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Di Donato
- Department of Precision Medicine-University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli'-via L. De Crecchio, 7-80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Gustavo Cernera
- Department of Precision Medicine-University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli'-via L. De Crecchio, 7-80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Antimo Migliaccio
- Department of Precision Medicine-University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli'-via L. De Crecchio, 7-80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Castoria
- Department of Precision Medicine-University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli'-via L. De Crecchio, 7-80138 Naples, Italy.
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Kwan EM, Fettke H, Docanto MM, To SQ, Bukczynska P, Mant A, Pook D, Ng N, Graham LJK, Mangiola S, Segelov E, Mahon K, Davis ID, Parente P, Pezaro C, Todenhöfer T, Horvath LG, Azad AA. Prognostic Utility of a Whole-blood Androgen Receptor-based Gene Signature in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol Focus 2019; 7:63-70. [PMID: 31103601 DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment paradigm for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has evolved significantly in recent years. Identifying predictive and/or prognostic biomarkers in the context of this rapidly expanding therapeutic armamentarium remains a pressing and unmet clinical need. OBJECTIVE To develop a prognostic whole-blood gene signature for mCRPC patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS As part of an ongoing prospective, multicentre biomarker research study (Australian Prostate Biomarker Alliance), we enrolled 115 mCRPC patients commencing chemotherapy (n = 34) or androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors therapy (n = 81) and obtained pretreatment whole-blood samples in PAXgene RNA tubes. Gene expression was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Gene transcripts correlating with overall survival (OS) at p < 0.10 in univariate Cox regression models were incorporated into a multigene signature. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and multivariate analyses were used to assess association with clinical outcomes. Prognostic strength of the signature was estimated using a concordance probability estimate (CPE). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Based on univariate analysis for OS, the following genes were incorporated into a multigene signature: AR splice variant 7 (AR-V7), and three androgen-regulated genes: GRHL2, HOXB13, and FOXA1. The number of positive transcripts clearly stratified survival outcomes (median OS: not reached vs 24.8 mo vs 16.2 mo for 0, 1, and ≥2 transcripts, respectively; p = 0.0052). Notably, this multigene signature retained prognostic significance on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.0; p = 0.019). Moreover, CPE for this model was 0.78, indicating strong discriminative capacity. Limitations include short follow-up time. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the prognostic utility of a novel whole-blood AR-based signature in mCRPC patients commencing contemporary systemic therapies. Our pragmatic assay requires minimal processing, can be performed in most hospital laboratories, and could represent a key prognostic tool for risk stratification in mCRPC. PATIENT SUMMARY We found that expression of certain genes associated with the androgen receptor could help determine how long men with advanced prostate cancer survive after starting modern drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond M Kwan
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Heidi Fettke
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maria M Docanto
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Q To
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Patricia Bukczynska
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Mant
- Medical Oncology Unit, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Pook
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole Ng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Stefano Mangiola
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eva Segelov
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate Mahon
- Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian D Davis
- Medical Oncology Unit, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phillip Parente
- Medical Oncology Unit, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Carmel Pezaro
- Medical Oncology Unit, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Lisa G Horvath
- Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Arun A Azad
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Gao AC. In honor of Dr. Donald S. Coffey - Prostate cancer biology and therapy. Asian J Urol 2019; 6:1-2. [PMID: 30775243 PMCID: PMC6363597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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