1
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Bhattacharya S, Harris HL, Islam R, Bodas S, Polavaram N, Mishra J, Das D, Seshacharyulu P, Kalluchi A, Pal A, Kohli M, Lele SM, Muders M, Batra SK, Ghosh PM, Datta K, Rowley MJ, Dutta S. Understanding the function of Pax5 in development of docetaxel-resistant neuroendocrine-like prostate cancers. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:617. [PMID: 39183332 PMCID: PMC11345443 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06916-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to the current Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitor (ARSI) therapies has led to higher incidences of therapy-induced neuroendocrine-like prostate cancer (t-NEPC). This highly aggressive subtype with predominant small-cell-like characteristics is resistant to taxane chemotherapies and has a dismal overall survival. t-NEPCs are mostly treated with platinum-based drugs with a combination of etoposide or taxane and have less selectivity and high systemic toxicity, which often limit their clinical potential. During t-NEPC transformation, adenocarcinomas lose their luminal features and adopt neuro-basal characteristics. Whether the adaptive neuronal characteristics of t-NEPC are responsible for such taxane resistance remains unknown. Pathway analysis from patient gene-expression databases indicates that t-NEPC upregulates various neuronal pathways associated with enhanced cellular networks. To identify transcription factor(s) (TF) that could be important for promoting the gene expression for neuronal characters in t-NEPC, we performed ATAC-Seq, acetylated-histone ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq in our NE-like cell line models and analyzed the promoters of transcriptionally active and significantly enriched neuroendocrine-like (NE-like) cancer-specific genes. Our results indicate that Pax5 could be an important transcription factor for neuronal gene expression and specific to t-NEPC. Pathway analysis revealed that Pax5 expression is involved in axonal guidance, neurotransmitter regulation, and neuronal adhesion, which are critical for strong cellular communications. Further results suggest that depletion of Pax5 disrupts neurite-mediated cellular communication in NE-like cells and reduces surface growth factor receptor activation, thereby, sensitizing them to docetaxel therapies. Moreover, t-NEPC-specific hydroxymethylation of Pax5 promoter CpG islands favors Pbx1 binding to induce Pax5 expression. Based on our study, we concluded that continuous exposure to ARSI therapies leads to epigenetic modifications and Pax5 activation in t-NEPC, which promotes the expression of genes necessary to adopt taxane-resistant NE-like cancer. Thus, targeting the Pax5 axis can be beneficial for reverting their taxane sensitivity.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Male
- Docetaxel/pharmacology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- PAX5 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- PAX5 Transcription Factor/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Receptors, Androgen/metabolism
- Receptors, Androgen/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreyashi Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Hannah L Harris
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ridwan Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sanika Bodas
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Navatha Polavaram
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Juhi Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Dipanwita Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Achyuth Kalluchi
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Manish Kohli
- School of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Subodh M Lele
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael Muders
- MVZ Pathology Bethesda, Heerstrasse 219, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Paramita M Ghosh
- Department of Urological Surgery, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - M Jordan Rowley
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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2
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Chen B, Xu P, Yang JC, Nip C, Wang L, Shen Y, Ning S, Shang Y, Corey E, Gao AC, Gestwicki JE, Wei Q, Liu L, Liu C. Plexin D1 emerges as a novel target in the development of neural lineage plasticity in treatment-resistant prostate cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:2325-2337. [PMID: 38877132 PMCID: PMC11286220 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03081-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC) often arises from adenocarcinoma via lineage plasticity in response to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, such as enzalutamide. However, the specific regulators and targets involved in the transition to NEPC are not well understood. Plexin D1 (PLXND1) is a cellular receptor of the semaphorin (SEMA) family that plays important roles in modulating the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion. Here, we found that PLXND1 was highly expressed and positively correlated with neuroendocrine markers in patients with NEPC. High PLXND1 expression was associated with poorer prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Additionally, PLXND1 was upregulated and negatively regulated by androgen receptor signaling in enzalutamide-resistant cells. Knockdown or knockout of PLXND1 inhibited neural lineage pathways, thereby suppressing NEPC cell proliferation, patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumor organoid viability, and xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistically, the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) regulated PLXND1 protein stability through degradation, and inhibition of HSP70 decreased PLXND1 expression and NEPC organoid growth. In summary, our findings indicate that PLXND1 could serve as a promising therapeutic target and molecular marker for NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Pengfei Xu
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joy C Yang
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Nip
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Leyi Wang
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Graduate Group in Integrative Pathobiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yuqiu Shen
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Shu Ning
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yufeng Shang
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Washington, WA, USA
| | - Allen C Gao
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Liangren Liu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Chengfei Liu
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Graduate Group in Integrative Pathobiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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3
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Bhat AM, Mohapatra BC, Luan H, Mushtaq I, Chakraborty S, Kumar S, Wu W, Nolan B, Dutta S, Storck MD, Schott M, Meza JL, Lele SM, Lin MF, Cook LM, Corey E, Morrissey C, Coulter DW, Rowley MJ, Natarajan A, Datta K, Band V, Band H. GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme GD3 synthase promote tumorigenesis in prostate cancer by regulating cancer stem cell behavior. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13523. [PMID: 38866755 PMCID: PMC11169677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
While better management of loco-regional prostate cancer (PC) has greatly improved survival, advanced PC remains a major cause of cancer deaths. Identification of novel targetable pathways that contribute to tumor progression in PC could open new therapeutic options. The di-ganglioside GD2 is a target of FDA-approved antibody therapies in neuroblastoma, but the role of GD2 in PC is unexplored. Here, we show that GD2 is expressed in a small subpopulation of PC cells in a subset of patients and a higher proportion of metastatic tumors. Variable levels of cell surface GD2 expression were seen on many PC cell lines, and the expression was highly upregulated by experimental induction of lineage progression or enzalutamide resistance in CRPC cell models. GD2high cell fraction was enriched upon growth of PC cells as tumorspheres and GD2high fraction was enriched in tumorsphere-forming ability. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) of the rate-limiting GD2 biosynthetic enzyme GD3 Synthase (GD3S) in GD2high CRPC cell models markedly impaired the in vitro oncogenic traits and growth as bone-implanted xenograft tumors and reduced the cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression. Our results support the potential role of GD3S and its product GD2 in promoting PC tumorigenesis by maintaining cancer stem cells and suggest the potential for GD2 targeting in advanced PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaqib M Bhat
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Bhopal C Mohapatra
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Haitao Luan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
| | - Insha Mushtaq
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Incyte Corporation, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Sukanya Chakraborty
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Siddhartha Kumar
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
| | - Wangbin Wu
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
| | - Ben Nolan
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Matthew D Storck
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
| | - Micah Schott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jane L Meza
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Subodh M Lele
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ming-Fong Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Leah M Cook
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Donald W Coulter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Incyte Corporation, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - M Jordan Rowley
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vimla Band
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Hamid Band
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6805, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, 985805 Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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4
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Bhattacharya S, Stillahn A, Smith K, Muders M, Datta K, Dutta S. Understanding the molecular regulators of neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2024; 161:403-429. [PMID: 39032955 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2024.04.006] [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] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Worldwide, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a leading cause of death in men. Histologically, the majority of PCa cases are classified as adenocarcinomas, which are mainly composed of androgen receptor-positive luminal cells. PCa is initially driven by the androgen receptor axis, where androgen-mediated activation of the receptor is one of the primary culprits for disease progression. Therefore, in advanced stage PCa, patients are generally treated with androgen deprivation therapies alone or in combination with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. However, after an initial decrease, the cancer recurs for majority patients. At this stage, cancer is known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Majority of CRPC tumors still depend on androgen receptor axis for its progression to metastasis. However, in around 20-30% of cases, CRPC progresses via an androgen receptor-independent pathway and is often presented as neuroendocrine cancer (NE). This NE phenotype is highly aggressive with poor overall survival as compared to CRPC adenocarcinoma. NE cancers are resistant to standard taxane chemotherapies, which are often used to treat metastatic disease. Pathologically and morphologically, NE cancers are highly diverse and often co-exist with adenocarcinoma. Due to the lack of proper biomarkers, it is often difficult to make an early diagnosis of this lethal disease. Moreover, increased tumor heterogeneity and admixtures of adeno and NE subtypes in the same tumor make early detection of NE tumors very difficult. With the advancement of our knowledge and sequencing technology, we are now able to better understand the molecular mediators of this transformation pathway. This current study will give an update on how various molecular regulators are involved in these lineage transformation processes and what challenges we are still facing to detect and treat this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreyashi Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Avery Stillahn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States
| | - Kaitlin Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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5
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Bhat AM, Mohapatra BC, Luan H, Mushtaq I, Chakraborty S, Kumar S, Wu W, Nolan B, Dutta S, Stock MD, Schott M, Meza JL, Lele SM, Lin MF, Cook LM, Corey E, Morrissey C, Coulter DW, Rowley J, Natarajan A, Datta K, Band V, Band H. GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme GD3 synthase promote tumorigenesis in prostate cancer by regulating cancer stem cell behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.18.533299. [PMID: 36993422 PMCID: PMC10055271 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.18.533299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
While better management of loco-regional prostate cancer (PC) has greatly improved survival, advanced PC remains a major cause of cancer deaths. Identification of novel targetable pathways that contribute to tumor progression in PC could open new therapeutic options. The di-ganglioside GD2 is a target of FDA-approved antibody therapies in neuroblastoma, but the role of GD2 in PC is unexplored. Here, we show that GD2 is expressed in a small subpopulation of PC cells in a subset of patients and a higher proportion of metastatic tumors. Variable levels of cell surface GD2 expression were seen on many PC cell lines, and the expression was highly upregulated by experimental induction of lineage progression or enzalutamide resistance in CRPC cell models. GD2high cell fraction was enriched upon growth of PC cells as tumorspheres and GD2high fraction was enriched in tumorsphere-forming ability. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) of the rate-limiting GD2 biosynthetic enzyme GD3 Synthase (GD3S) in GD2high CRPC cell models markedly impaired the in vitro oncogenic traits and growth as bone-implanted xenograft tumors and reduced the cancer stem cell (CSC) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression. Our results support the potential role of GD3S and its product GD2 in promoting PC tumorigenesis by maintaining cancer stem cells and suggest the potential for GD2 targeting in advanced PC.
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6
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Liu C, Chen B, Xu P, Yang J, Nip C, Wang L, Shen Y, Ning S, Shang Y, Corey E, Gao AC, Gestwicki J, Wei Q, Liu L. Plexin D1 emerges as a novel target in the development of neural lineage plasticity in treatment-resistant prostate cancer. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4095949. [PMID: 38585965 PMCID: PMC10996809 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4095949/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC) often arises from adenocarcinoma via lineage plasticity in response to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, such as enzalutamide. However, the specific regulators and targets involved in the transition to NEPC are not well understood. Plexin D1 (PLXND1) is a cellular receptor of the semaphorin (SEMA) family that plays important roles in modulating the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion. Here, we found that PLXND1 is highly expressed and positively correlated with neuroendocrine markers in patients with NEPC. High PLXND1 expression is associated with poorer prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Additionally, PLXND1 was upregulated and negatively regulated by androgen receptor signaling in enzalutamide-resistant cells. Knockdown or knockout of PLXND1 inhibit neural lineage pathways, suppressing NEPC cell proliferation, PDX tumor organoid viability, and xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistically, the chaperone protein HSP70 regulates PLXND1 protein stability through degradation, and inhibition of HSP70 decreases PLXND1 expression and NEPC organoid growth. In summary, our findings suggest that PLXND1 could be a new therapeutic target and molecular indicator for NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qiang Wei
- West China Hospital of Sichuan University
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7
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Wang R, Mi Y, Ni J, Wang Y, Ding L, Ran X, Sun Q, Tan SY, Koeffler HP, Feng N, Chen YQ. Identification of PRDX5 as A Target for The Treatment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304939. [PMID: 38115765 PMCID: PMC10916659 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a long-standing clinical challenge. Traditionally, CRPC drugs work by either reducing dihydrotestosterone biosynthesis or blocking androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Here it is demonstrated that AR inhibitor treatment gives rise to a drug-tolerant persister (DTP) state. The thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin pathway is up-regulated in DTP cells. Peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) promotes AR inhibitor resistance and CRPC development. Inhibition of PRDX5 suppresses DTP cell proliferation in culture, dampens CRPC development in animal models, and stabilizes PSA progression and metastatic lesions in patients. Therefore, the study provides a novel mechanism and potential target for the management of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- Jiangnan University Medical CenterJiangnan UniversityWuxi214002China
- Wuxi School of MedicineJiangnan UniversityWuxi214122China
| | - Yuanyuan Mi
- Affiliated HospitalJiangnan UniversityWuxi214122China
| | - Jiang Ni
- Affiliated HospitalJiangnan UniversityWuxi214122China
| | - Yang Wang
- Jiangnan University Medical CenterJiangnan UniversityWuxi214002China
| | - Lingwen Ding
- Department of PathologyYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingapore117597Singapore
- Cancer Science Institute of SingaporeNational University of SingaporeSingapore117599Singapore
| | - Xuebin Ran
- Department of PathologyYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingapore117597Singapore
- Cancer Science Institute of SingaporeNational University of SingaporeSingapore117599Singapore
| | - Qiaoyang Sun
- Department of HematologySingapore General HospitalSingapore169608Singapore
| | - Soo Yong Tan
- Department of PathologyYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingapore117597Singapore
| | - H Phillip Koeffler
- Cancer Science Institute of SingaporeNational University of SingaporeSingapore117599Singapore
- Division of Hematology/OncologyCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterUCLA School of MedicineLos AngelesCalifornia90048USA
| | - Ninghan Feng
- Jiangnan University Medical CenterJiangnan UniversityWuxi214002China
| | - Yong Q Chen
- Jiangnan University Medical CenterJiangnan UniversityWuxi214002China
- Wuxi School of MedicineJiangnan UniversityWuxi214122China
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8
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Dutta S, Bhattacharya S, Harris H, Islam R, Bodas S, Polavaram N, Mishra J, Das D, Seshacharyulu P, Kalluchi A, Pal A, Kohli M, Lele S, Muders M, Batra S, Ghosh P, Datta K, Rowley M. Understanding the role of Pax5 in development of taxane-resistant neuroendocrine like prostate cancers. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3464475. [PMID: 38168280 PMCID: PMC10760218 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3464475/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to the current Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitor (ARSI) therapies has led to higher incidences of therapy-induced neuroendocrine-like prostate cancer (t-NEPC). This highly aggressive subtype with predominant small cell-like characteristics is resistant to taxane chemotherapies and has a dismal overall survival. t-NEPCs are mostly treated with platinum-based drugs with a combination of etoposide or taxane and have less selectivity and high systemic toxicity, which often limit their clinical potential. During t-NEPC transformation, adenocarcinomas lose their luminal features and adopt neuro-basal characteristics. Whether the adaptive neuronal characteristics of t-NEPC are responsible for such taxane resistance remains unknown. Pathway analysis from patient gene-expression databases indicates that t-NEPC upregulates various neuronal pathways associated with enhanced cellular networks. To identify transcription factor(s) (TF) that could be important for promoting the gene expression for neuronal characters in t-NEPC, we performed ATAC-Seq, acetylated-histone ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq in our NE-like cell line models and analyzed the promoters of transcriptionally active and significantly enriched neuroendocrine-like (NE-like) cancer-specific genes. Our results indicate that Pax5 could be an important transcription factor for neuronal gene expression and specific to t-NEPC. Pathway analysis revealed that Pax5 expression is involved in axonal guidance, neurotransmitter regulation, and neuronal adhesion, which are critical for strong cellular communications. Further results suggest that depletion of Pax5 disrupts cellular interaction in NE-like cells and reduces surface growth factor receptor activation, thereby, sensitizing them to taxane therapies. Moreover, t-NEPC specific hydroxymethylation of Pax5 promoter CpG islands favors Pbx1 binding to induce Pax5 expression. Based on our study, we concluded that continuous exposure to ARSI therapies leads to epigenetic modifications and Pax5 activation in t-NEPC, which promotes the expression of genes necessary to adopt taxane-resistant NE-like cancer. Thus, targeting the Pax5 axis can be beneficial for reverting their taxane sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael Muders
- Rudolf Becker Laboratory for Prostate Cancer Research, Center of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical Center
| | - Surinder Batra
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
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9
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Ge Q, Li J, Yang F, Tian X, Zhang M, Hao Z, Liang C, Meng J. Molecular classifications of prostate cancer: basis for individualized risk stratification and precision therapy. Ann Med 2023; 55:2279235. [PMID: 37939258 PMCID: PMC10653710 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2279235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour classifications play a pivotal role in prostate cancer (PCa) management. It can predict the clinical outcomes of PCa as early as the disease is diagnosed and then guide therapeutic schemes, such as active monitoring, standalone surgical intervention, or surgery supplemented with postoperative adjunctive therapy, thereby circumventing disease exacerbation and excessive treatment. Classifications based on clinicopathological features, such as prostate cancer-specific antigen, Gleason score, and TNM stage, are still the main risk stratification strategies and have played an essential role in standardized clinical decision-making. However, mounting evidence indicates that clinicopathological parameters in isolation fail to adequately capture the heterogeneity exhibited among distinct PCa patients, such as those sharing identical Gleason scores yet experiencing divergent prognoses. As a remedy, molecular classifications have been introduced. Currently, molecular studies have revealed the characteristic genomic alterations, epigenetic modulations, and tumour microenvironment associated with different types of PCa, which provide a chance for urologists to refine the PCa classification. In this context, numerous invaluable molecular classifications have been devised, employing disparate statistical methodologies and algorithmic approaches, encompassing self-organizing map clustering, unsupervised cluster analysis, and multifarious algorithms. Interestingly, the classifier PAM50 was used in a phase-2 multicentre open-label trial, NRG-GU-006, for further validation, which hints at the promise of molecular classification for clinical use. Consequently, this review examines the extant molecular classifications, delineates the prevailing panorama of clinically pertinent molecular signatures, and delves into eight emblematic molecular classifications, dissecting their methodological underpinnings and clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qintao Ge
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Feixiang Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | | | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Zongyao Hao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Chaozhao Liang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Jialin Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
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10
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Xu Z, Goel HL, Burkart C, Burman L, Chong YE, Barber AG, Geng Y, Zhai L, Wang M, Kumar A, Menefee A, Polizzi C, Eide L, Rauch K, Rahman J, Hamel K, Fogassy Z, Klopp-Savino S, Paz S, Zhang M, Cubitt A, Nangle LA, Mercurio AM. Inhibition of VEGF binding to neuropilin-2 enhances chemosensitivity and inhibits metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadf1128. [PMID: 37134152 PMCID: PMC10583499 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf1128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Although blocking the binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to neuropilin-2 (NRP2) on tumor cells is a potential strategy to treat aggressive carcinomas, a lack of effective reagents that can be used clinically has hampered this potential therapy. Here, we describe the generation of a fully humanized, high-affinity monoclonal antibody (aNRP2-10) that specifically inhibits the binding of VEGF to NRP2, conferring antitumor activity without causing toxicity. Using triple-negative breast cancer as a model, we demonstrated that aNRP2-10 could be used to isolate cancer stem cells (CSCs) from heterogeneous tumor populations and inhibit CSC function and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. aNRP2-10 sensitized cell lines, organoids, and xenografts to chemotherapy and inhibited metastasis by promoting the differentiation of CSCs to a state that is more responsive to chemotherapy and less prone to metastasis. These data provide justification for the initiation of clinical trials designed to improve the response of patients with aggressive tumors to chemotherapy using this monoclonal antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Xu
- aTyr Pharma, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Yanyan Geng
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Pangu Biopharma, 26th Floor, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liting Zhai
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Pangu Biopharma, 26th Floor, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mengdie Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ayush Kumar
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa Eide
- aTyr Pharma, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mingjie Zhang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Arthur M. Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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11
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Wang M, Wisniewski CA, Xiong C, Chhoy P, Goel HL, Kumar A, Zhu LJ, Li R, St Louis PA, Ferreira LM, Pakula H, Xu Z, Loda M, Jiang Z, Brehm MA, Mercurio AM. Therapeutic blocking of VEGF binding to neuropilin-2 diminishes PD-L1 expression to activate antitumor immunity in prostate cancer. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eade5855. [PMID: 37134151 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade5855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancers are largely unresponsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and there is strong evidence that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression itself must be inhibited to activate antitumor immunity. Here, we report that neuropilin-2 (NRP2), which functions as a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor on tumor cells, is an attractive target to activate antitumor immunity in prostate cancer because VEGF-NRP2 signaling sustains PD-L1 expression. NRP2 depletion increased T cell activation in vitro. In a syngeneic model of prostate cancer that is resistant to ICI, inhibition of the binding of VEGF to NRP2 using a mouse-specific anti-NRP2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) resulted in necrosis and tumor regression compared with both an anti-PD-L1 mAb and control immunoglobulin G. This therapy also decreased tumor PD-L1 expression and increased immune cell infiltration. We observed that the NRP2, VEGFA, and VEGFC genes are amplified in metastatic castration-resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancer. We also found that individuals with NRP2High PD-L1High metastatic tumors had lower androgen receptor expression and higher neuroendocrine prostate cancer scores than other individuals with prostate cancer. In organoids derived from patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer, therapeutic inhibition of VEGF binding to NRP2 using a high-affinity humanized mAb suitable for clinical use also diminished PD-L1 expression and caused a substantial increase in immune-mediated tumor cell killing, consistent with the animal studies. These findings provide justification for the initiation of clinical trials using this function-blocking NRP2 mAb in prostate cancer, especially for patients with aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdie Wang
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christi A Wisniewski
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Choua Xiong
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Peter Chhoy
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ayush Kumar
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rui Li
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Pamela A St Louis
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lindsay M Ferreira
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Hubert Pakula
- Department of Pathology, Cornell Weill School of Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- aTyr Pharma Inc., San Diego CA, 92121, USA
| | - Massimo Loda
- Department of Pathology, Cornell Weill School of Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Zhong Jiang
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael A Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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12
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Islam R, Mishra J, Bodas S, Bhattacharya S, Batra SK, Dutta S, Datta K. Role of Neuropilin-2-mediated signaling axis in cancer progression and therapy resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:771-787. [PMID: 35776228 PMCID: PMC9247951 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10048-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilins (NRPs) are transmembrane proteins involved in vascular and nervous system development by regulating angiogenesis and axon guidance cues. Several published reports have established their role in tumorigenesis. NRPs are detectable in tumor cells of several cancer types and participate in cancer progression. NRP2 is also expressed in endothelial and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and promotes functions such as lymphangiogenesis and immune suppression important for cancer progression. In this review, we have taken a comprehensive approach to discussing various aspects of NRP2-signaling in cancer, including its regulation, functional significance in cancer progression, and how we could utilize our current knowledge to advance the studies and target NRP2 to develop effective cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridwan Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Juhi Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sanika Bodas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Sreyashi Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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