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Lafront C, Germain L, Campolina-Silva GH, Weidmann C, Berthiaume L, Hovington H, Brisson H, Jobin C, Frégeau-Proulx L, Cotau R, Gonthier K, Lacouture A, Caron P, Ménard C, Atallah C, Riopel J, Latulippe É, Bergeron A, Toren P, Guillemette C, Pelletier M, Fradet Y, Belleannée C, Pouliot F, Lacombe L, Lévesque É, Audet-Walsh É. The estrogen signaling pathway reprograms prostate cancer cell metabolism and supports proliferation and disease progression. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e170809. [PMID: 38625747 PMCID: PMC11142735 DOI: 10.1172/jci170809] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Just like the androgen receptor (AR), the estrogen receptor α (ERα) is expressed in the prostate and is thought to influence prostate cancer (PCa) biology. Yet the incomplete understanding of ERα functions in PCa hinders our ability to fully comprehend its clinical relevance and restricts the repurposing of estrogen-targeted therapies for the treatment of this disease. Using 2 human PCa tissue microarray cohorts, we first demonstrate that nuclear ERα expression was heterogeneous among patients, being detected in only half of the tumors. Positive nuclear ERα levels were correlated with disease recurrence, progression to metastatic PCa, and patient survival. Using in vitro and in vivo models of the normal prostate and PCa, bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq analyses revealed that estrogens partially mimicked the androgen transcriptional response and activated specific biological pathways linked to proliferation and metabolism. Bioenergetic flux assays and metabolomics confirmed the regulation of cancer metabolism by estrogens, supporting proliferation. Using cancer cell lines and patient-derived organoids, selective estrogen receptor modulators, a pure anti-estrogen, and genetic approaches impaired cancer cell proliferation and growth in an ERα-dependent manner. Overall, our study revealed that, when expressed, ERα functionally reprogrammed PCa metabolism, was associated with disease progression, and could be targeted for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Lafront
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Lucas Germain
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabriel H. Campolina-Silva
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Cindy Weidmann
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Line Berthiaume
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Hélène Hovington
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Hervé Brisson
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Cynthia Jobin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Lilianne Frégeau-Proulx
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Raul Cotau
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Kevin Gonthier
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Aurélie Lacouture
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Caron
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Claire Ménard
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Chantal Atallah
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Riopel
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Éva Latulippe
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Bergeron
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery
| | - Paul Toren
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery
| | - Chantal Guillemette
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, and
| | - Martin Pelletier
- Department of Microbiology-Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Infectious and Immune Diseases Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- ARThrite Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Yves Fradet
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery
| | - Clémence Belleannée
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Pouliot
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery
| | - Louis Lacombe
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Oncology Research Division, CRCHUQ-UL, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery
| | - Éric Lévesque
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Étienne Audet-Walsh
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Endocrinology and Nephrology Division, CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center (CRCHUQ-UL), Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Cancer Research Center (CRC) of Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
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2
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Belluti S, Imbriano C, Casarini L. Nuclear Estrogen Receptors in Prostate Cancer: From Genes to Function. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4653. [PMID: 37760622 PMCID: PMC10526871 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogens are almost ubiquitous steroid hormones that are essential for development, metabolism, and reproduction. They exert both genomic and non-genomic action through two nuclear receptors (ERα and ERβ), which are transcription factors with disregulated functions and/or expression in pathological processes. In the 1990s, the discovery of an additional membrane estrogen G-protein-coupled receptor augmented the complexity of this picture. Increasing evidence elucidating the specific molecular mechanisms of action and opposing effects of ERα and Erβ was reported in the context of prostate cancer treatment, where these issues are increasingly investigated. Although new approaches improved the efficacy of clinical therapies thanks to the development of new molecules targeting specifically estrogen receptors and used in combination with immunotherapy, more efforts are needed to overcome the main drawbacks, and resistance events will be a challenge in the coming years. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art on ERα and ERβ mechanisms of action in prostate cancer and promising future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Belluti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (S.B.); (C.I.)
| | - Carol Imbriano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (S.B.); (C.I.)
| | - Livio Casarini
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Ospedale di Baggiovara, 41126 Modena, Italy
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Matsuda C, Ishii K, Nakagawa Y, Shirai T, Sasaki T, Hirokawa YS, Iguchi K, Watanabe M. Fibroblast-derived exosomal microRNA regulates NKX3-1 expression in androgen-sensitive, androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer cells. J Cell Biochem 2023; 124:1135-1144. [PMID: 37334663 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30435] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) targeting androgen production and androgen receptor (AR) signaling is the primary antihormonal therapy in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa). However, no clinically established molecular biomarkers have been identified to predict the effectiveness of ADT before starting ADT. The tumor microenvironment of PCa contains fibroblasts that regulate PCa progression by producing multiple soluble factors. We have previously reported that AR-activating factor-secreted fibroblasts increase the responsiveness of androgen-sensitive, AR-dependent PCa cells to ADT. Thus, we hypothesized that fibroblast-derived soluble factors may affect cancer cell differentiation by regulating cancer-related gene expression in PCa cells and that the biochemical characteristics of fibroblasts may be used to predict the effectiveness of ADT. Here, we investigated the effects of normal fibroblasts (PrSC cells) and three PCa patient-derived fibroblast lines (pcPrF-M5, -M28, and -M31 cells) on the expression of cancer-related genes in androgen-sensitive, AR-dependent human PCa cells (LNCaP cells) and three sublines showing different androgen sensitivities and AR dependencies. The mRNA expression of the tumor suppressor gene NKX3-1 in LNCaP cells and E9 cells (which show low androgen sensitivity and AR dependency) was significantly increased by treatment with conditioned media from PrSC and pcPrF-M5 cells but not from pcPrF-M28 and pcPrF-M31 cells. Notably, no upregulation of NKX3-1 was observed in F10 cells (AR-V7-expressing, AR-independent cells with low androgen sensitivity) and AIDL cells (androgen-insensitive, AR-independent cells). Among 81 common fibroblast-derived exosomal microRNAs that showed 0.5-fold lower expression in pcPrF-M28 and pcPrF-M31 cells than in PrSC and pcPrF-M5 cells, miR-449c-3p and miR-3121-3p were found to target NKX3-1. In only LNCaP cells, the NKX3-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased by transfection of an miR-3121-3p mimic but not that of the miR-449c-3p mimic. Thus, fibroblast-derived exosomal miR-3121-3p may be involved in preventing the oncogenic dedifferentiation of PCa cells by targeting NKX3-1 in androgen-sensitive, AR-dependent PCa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chise Matsuda
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Ishii
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
- Department of Nursing, Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Nakagawa
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Gifu University of Medical Science, Gifu, Japan
| | - Taku Shirai
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sasaki
- Department of Nephro-Urologic Surgery and Andrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi S Hirokawa
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Iguchi
- Laboratory of Community Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Watanabe
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
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4
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Gadkar S, Thakur M, Desouza J, Bhowmick S, Patel V, Chaudhari U, Acharya KK, Sachdeva G. Estrogen receptor expression is modulated in human and mouse prostate epithelial cells during cancer progression. Steroids 2022; 184:109036. [PMID: 35413338 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109036] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Substantial data posit estrogen receptors (ERs) as promising targets for prostate cancer (PCa) therapeutics. However, the trials on assessing the chemo-preventive or therapeutic potential of ER targeting drugs or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have not yet established their clinical benefits. This could be ascribed to a possible modulation in the ER expression during PCa progression. Further it is warranted to test various ER targeting drugs in appropriate preclinical models that simulate human ER expression pattern during PCa progression. The study was undertaken to revisit the existing data on the epithelial ER expression pattern in human cancerous prostates and experimentally determine whether these patterns are replicated in TRAMP (Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate) mice, a model for human PCa. Estradiol (E2) binding to the plasma membrane of the epithelial cells and its modulation during the PCa progression in TRAMP were also investigated. A reassessment of the existing data revealed a trend towards downregulation in the epithelial expression of wild-type ESR1 transcripts in high-grade PCa, compared to non-cancerous prostate in humans. Next, epithelial cell-enriched populations from TRAMP prostates (TP) displaying low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (LGPIN), high-grade PIN (HGPIN), HGPIN with well-differentiated carcinoma (PIN + WDC), WDC (equivalent to grade 2/3 human PCa), and poorly-differentiated carcinoma (PDC-equivalent to grade 4/5 human PCa) revealed significantly higher Esr1 and Esr2 levels in HGPIN and significantly reduced levels in WDC, compared to respective age-matched control prostates. These patterns for the nuclear ERs were similar to the trend shown by E2 binding to the plasma membrane of the epithelial cells during PCa progression in TRAMP. E2 binding to epithelial cells (EpCAM+), though significantly higher in TPs displaying LGPIN, decreased significantly as the disease progressed to WDC. The study highlights a reduction in the epithelial ESR level with the PCa progression and this pattern was evident in both humans and TRAMP. These observations may have major implications in refining PCa therapeutics targeting ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushama Gadkar
- Cell Physiology and Pathology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Mohini Thakur
- Cell Physiology and Pathology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Junita Desouza
- Cell Physiology and Pathology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Shilpa Bhowmick
- Viral Immunopathogenesis Laboratory, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Vainav Patel
- Viral Immunopathogenesis Laboratory, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Uddhav Chaudhari
- Cell Physiology and Pathology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Kshitish K Acharya
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Shodhaka Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru (Bangalore) 560100, India
| | - Geetanjali Sachdeva
- Cell Physiology and Pathology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai 400012, India.
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5
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Tao R, Liu E, Zhao X, Han L, Yu B, Mao H, Yang W, Gao X. Combination of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus with Ecliptae Herba and their phytoestrogen or phytoandrogen like active pharmaceutical ingredients alleviate oestrogen/testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia through regulating steroid 5-α-reductase. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 102:154169. [PMID: 35636178 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a urinary system disease with high prevalence among the middle and elder men. In BPH, proliferation of prostate cells and the imbanlance between androgen and estrogen are both important inducers. Previous studies have demonstrated that compounds from Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF) and Ecliptae Herba (EH) are of phytoestrogenic or phytoandrogenic activities. The combination of LLF with EH at the ratio of 1:1 on crude drugs quantity is called Erzhi formula (EZF), which is used for in vivo research of our study. PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms of EZF and its active pharmaceutical ingredients on BPH in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Therapeutic effects of EZF was evaluated in E2/testosterone (1:100) induced BPH rats model. The pathological changes of prostate, concentrations of testosterone, DHT, E2, PSA in rats' plasma and prostate were detected. The expressions of PCNA, AR, ERα, ERβ, SRD5A1, SRD5A2 were measured in BPH rat prostates and E2-stimulated human benign prostatic epithelial cells (BPH-1). RESULTS EZF treatment significantly attenuated rat prostate enlargement, alleviated BPH pathological features, and decreased the expression of PCNA. The up-regulation of AR, ERα, SRD5A1/2 expressions, and down-regulation of ERβ expression at prostate of rat BPH model were significantly blocked by EZF administration. The expression levels of testosterone, DHT, E2, PSA were strongly inhibited by EZF treatment. At the cellular level, ligustrosidic acid and echinocystic acid inhibited E2-induced BPH-1 cell proliferation and PCNA expressions, which were consistent with the results in vivo. And these two ingredients also down-regulated the expressions of AR, ERα, SRD5A1/2 and up-regulated the expression of ERβ in BPH-1 cells. CONCLUSION EZF, ligustrosidic acid from LLF and echinocystic acid from EH showed inhibitive effects on BPH via down-regulating prostatic AR, ERα, SRD5A1/2 expressions and up-regulating ERβ expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tao
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Erwei Liu
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lifeng Han
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoping Mao
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenzhi Yang
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiumei Gao
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
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Tang DG. Understanding and targeting prostate cancer cell heterogeneity and plasticity. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 82:68-93. [PMID: 34844845 PMCID: PMC9106849 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignancy that occurs primarily in old males. Prostate tumors in different patients manifest significant inter-patient heterogeneity with respect to histo-morphological presentations and molecular architecture. An individual patient tumor also harbors genetically distinct clones in which PCa cells display intra-tumor heterogeneity in molecular features and phenotypic marker expression. This inherent PCa cell heterogeneity, e.g., in the expression of androgen receptor (AR), constitutes a barrier to the long-term therapeutic efficacy of AR-targeting therapies. Furthermore, tumor progression as well as therapeutic treatments induce PCa cell plasticity such that AR-positive PCa cells may turn into AR-negative cells and prostate tumors may switch lineage identity from adenocarcinomas to neuroendocrine-like tumors. This induced PCa cell plasticity similarly confers resistance to AR-targeting and other therapies. In this review, I first discuss PCa from the perspective of an abnormal organ development and deregulated cellular differentiation, and discuss the luminal progenitor cells as the likely cells of origin for PCa. I then focus on intrinsic PCa cell heterogeneity in treatment-naïve tumors with the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs). I further elaborate on PCa cell plasticity induced by genetic alterations and therapeutic interventions, and present potential strategies to therapeutically tackle PCa cell heterogeneity and plasticity. My discussions will make it clear that, to achieve enduring clinical efficacy, both intrinsic PCa cell heterogeneity and induced PCa cell plasticity need to be targeted with novel combinatorial approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean G Tang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; Experimental Therapeutics (ET) Graduate Program, The University at Buffalo & Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
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7
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Fan C, Lu W, Li K, Zhao C, Wang F, Ding G, Wang J. Identification of immune cell infiltration pattern and related critical genes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Biomark 2021; 32:363-377. [PMID: 34151837 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-203222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is the lethal stage of prostate cancer and the main cause of morbidity and mortality, which is also a potential target for immunotherapy. METHOD In this study, using the Approximate Relative Subset of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) online method, we analysed the immune cell abundance ratio of each sample in the mCRPC dataset. The EdgeR (an R package) was used to classify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Using the Database for annotation, visualisation and interactive exploration (DAVID) online method, we performed functional enrichment analyses. STRING online database and Cytoscape tools have been used to analyse protein-protein interaction (PPI) and classify hub genes. RESULTS The profiles of immune infiltration in mCRPC showed that Macrophages M2, Macrophages M0, T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells CD8 and Plasma cells were the main infiltration cell types in mCRPC samples. Macrophage M0 and T cell CD4 memory resting abundance ratios were correlated with clinical outcomes. We identified 1102 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the above two immune cells to further explore the underlying mechanisms. Enrichment analysis found that DEGs were substantially enriched in immune response, cell metastasis, and metabolism related categories. We identified 20 hub genes by the protein-protein interaction network analysis. Further analysis showed that three critical hub genes, CCR5, COL1A1 and CXCR3, were significantly associated with prostate cancer prognosis. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed the pattern of immune cell infiltration in mCRPC, and identified the types and genes of immune cells correlated with clinical outcomes. A new theoretical basis for immunotherapy may be given by our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caibin Fan
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Lu
- School of Nursing, Suzhou Vocational Health and Technical College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunchun Zhao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guanxiong Ding
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianqing Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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8
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Devlies W, Handle F, Devos G, Joniau S, Claessens F. Preclinical Models in Prostate Cancer: Resistance to AR Targeting Therapies in Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:915. [PMID: 33671614 PMCID: PMC7926818 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is an androgen-driven tumor. Different prostate cancer therapies consequently focus on blocking the androgen receptor pathway. Clinical studies reported tumor resistance mechanisms by reactivating and bypassing the androgen pathway. Preclinical models allowed the identification, confirmation, and thorough study of these pathways. This review looks into the current and future role of preclinical models to understand resistance to androgen receptor-targeted therapies. Increasing knowledge on this resistance will greatly improve insights into tumor pathophysiology and future treatment strategies in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wout Devlies
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Florian Handle
- Division of Experimental Urology, Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Gaëtan Devos
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Steven Joniau
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Frank Claessens
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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9
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Javed Z, Khan K, Rasheed A, Sadia H, Shahwani MN, Irshad A, Raza S, Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Suleria HAR, Cruz-Martins N, Quispe C. Targeting androgen receptor signaling with MicroRNAs and Curcumin: a promising therapeutic approach for Prostate Cancer Prevention and intervention. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:77. [PMID: 33499881 PMCID: PMC7836194 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-01777-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is a multifactorial disease characterized by the abrogation of androgen receptor signaling. Advancement in microbiology techniques has highlighted the significant role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the progression of PC cells from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent state. At that stage, prostate tumors also fail to respond to currently practiced hormone therapies. So, studies in recent decades are focused on investigating the anti-tumor effects of natural compounds in PC. Curcumin is widely recognized and now of huge prestige for its anti-proliferative abilities in different types of cancer. However, its limited solubility, compatibility, and instability in the aqueous phase are major hurdles when administering. Nanoformulations have proven to be an excellent drug delivery system for various drugs and can be used as potential delivery platforms for curcumin in PC. In this review, a shed light is given on the miRNAs-mediated regulation of androgen receptor (AR) signaling and miRNA-curcumin interplay in PC, as well as on curcumin-based nanoformulations that can be used as possible therapeutic solutions for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeshan Javed
- Office for Research Innovation and Commercialization, Lahore Garrison University, DHA, Sector-C, Phase VI, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Khushbukhat Khan
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Amna Rasheed
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Haleema Sadia
- Department of Biotechnology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naeem Shahwani
- Department of Biotechnology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Asma Irshad
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Raza
- Office for Research Innovation and Commercialization, Lahore Garrison University, DHA, Sector-C, Phase VI, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Bahare Salehi
- Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador.
| | - Hafiz A R Suleria
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Natália Cruz-Martins
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal. .,Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cristina Quispe
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Avda. Arturo Prat 2120, 1110939, Iquique, Chile.
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10
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Estrogen Receptor Signaling Pathways Involved in Invasion and Colony Formation of Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells PC-3. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031153. [PMID: 33503805 PMCID: PMC7865506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is an advanced and androgen-independent form of prostate cancer. Recent studies of rapid actions mediated by estrogen in the prostate and its relationship with CRPC are emerging. We have previously shown that estrogen receptor (ER) promotes migration and invasion of the androgen-independent prostate cancer cells PC-3, but the signaling pathways involved in these events remain to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the role of ERα and ERβ in the activation of SRC, and the involvement of SRC and PI3K/AKT on invasion and colony formation of the PC-3 cells. Our results showed that the activation of ERα (using ERα-selective agonist PPT) and ERβ (using ERβ-selective agonist DPN) increased phosphorylation of SRC in PC-3 cells. In the presence of the selective inhibitor for SRC-family kinases PP2, the effects of DPN and PPT on transmigration and soft agar colony formation assays were decreased. Furthermore, SRC is involved in the expression of the non-phosphorylated β-catenin. Finally, using PI3K specific inhibitor Wortmannin and AKT inhibitor MK2206, we showed that PI3K/AKT are also required for invasion and colony formation of PC-3 cells simulated by ER. This study provides novel insights into molecular mechanisms of ER in PC-3 cells by demonstrating that ER, located outside the cell nucleus, activates rapid responses molecules, including SRC and PI3K/AKT, which enhance the tumorigenic potential of prostate cancer cells, increasing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation.
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11
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Chenlo M, Aliyev E, Rodrigues JS, Vieiro-Balo P, Blanco Freire MN, Cameselle-Teijeiro JM, Alvarez CV. Sequential Colocalization of ERa, PR, and AR Hormone Receptors Using Confocal Microscopy Enables New Insights into Normal Breast and Prostate Tissue and Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123591. [PMID: 33266334 PMCID: PMC7761237 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary At present, platforms for multiplex immunohistochemistry (e.g., Opal) identify markers in distinct cell populations within a tissue section using multispectral fluorescence and optic microscopy. However, the optic resolution is not enough to colocalize markers at the subcellular level in the main epithelial or cancer population. We use confocal microscopy in multiplex detection of nuclear hormone receptors since they are an important part of the diagnosis and treatment of breast and prostate cancer. Moreover, we increased the quantitative dynamic range and resolution through increasing the signal/noise ration through reducing autofluorescence and increased longer antibody incubations. ColNu mIHCF identified distinct patterns of nuclear receptor colocalization in breast cancers. Furthermore, in prostate cancer all cancer epithelium was positive for ERa at the plasma membrane; and in normal prostate a small ERa+/p63+/AR− basal population suggest stem cell commitment to differentiation. ColNu mIHCF could be used for improving diagnosis and treatment in cancer. Abstract Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) use markers staining different cell populations applying widefield optical microscopy. Resolution is low not resolving subcellular co-localization. We sought to colocalize markers at subcellular level with antibodies validated for clinical diagnosis, including the single secondary antibody (combination of anti-rabbit/mouse-antibodies) used for diagnostic IHC with any primary antibody, and confocal microscopy. We explore colocalization in the nucleus (ColNu) of nuclear hormone receptors (ERa, PR, and AR) along with the baseline marker p63 in paired samples of breast and prostate tissues. We established ColNu mIHCF as a reliable technique easily implemented in a hospital setting. In ERa+ breast cancer, we identified different colocalization patterns (nuclear or cytoplasmatic) with PR and AR on the luminal epithelium. A triple-negative breast-cancer case expressed membrane-only ERa. A PR-only case was double positive PR/p63. In normal prostate, we identified an ERa+/p63+/AR-negative distinct population. All prostate cancer cases characteristically expressed ERa on the apical membrane of the AR+ epithelium. We confirmed this using ERa IHC and needle-core biopsies. ColNu mIHCF is feasible and already revealed a new marker for prostate cancer and identified sub-patterns in breast cancer. It could be useful for pathology as well as for functional studies in normal prostate and breast tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Chenlo
- Neoplasia & Endocrine Differentiation P0L5, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Moleculary Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (J.S.R.)
| | - Elvin Aliyev
- Department of Pathology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (E.A.); (P.V.-B.)
| | - Joana S. Rodrigues
- Neoplasia & Endocrine Differentiation P0L5, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Moleculary Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (J.S.R.)
| | - Paula Vieiro-Balo
- Department of Pathology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (E.A.); (P.V.-B.)
| | - Manuel N. Blanco Freire
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - José Manuel Cameselle-Teijeiro
- Department of Pathology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (E.A.); (P.V.-B.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.C.-T.); (C.V.A.)
| | - Clara V. Alvarez
- Neoplasia & Endocrine Differentiation P0L5, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Moleculary Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (J.S.R.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.C.-T.); (C.V.A.)
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12
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Devlies W, Eckstein M, Cimadamore A, Devos G, Moris L, Van den Broeck T, Montironi R, Joniau S, Claessens F, Gevaert T. Clinical Actionability of the Genomic Landscape of Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:E2494. [PMID: 33212909 PMCID: PMC7698403 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted therapies increases treatment options for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. There is a need for strong predictive and prognostic signatures to guide physicians in treating mCRPC patients. In this review we unravel the possible actionability in the AR pathway, PI3K AKT signaling, and DNA repair pathways. Additionally, we make recommendations on biomarker trial design, and the clinical use of this new type of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wout Devlies
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (L.M.); (T.V.d.B.); (S.J.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Department of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Alessia Cimadamore
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, United Hospitals, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Gaëtan Devos
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (L.M.); (T.V.d.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Lisa Moris
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (L.M.); (T.V.d.B.); (S.J.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Thomas Van den Broeck
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (L.M.); (T.V.d.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Rodolfo Montironi
- Section of Pathological Anatomy, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, United Hospitals, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Steven Joniau
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.D.); (L.M.); (T.V.d.B.); (S.J.)
| | - Frank Claessens
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Thomas Gevaert
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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13
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RNA-binding protein DDX3 mediates posttranscriptional regulation of androgen receptor: A mechanism of castration resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:28092-28101. [PMID: 33106406 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008479117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (CaP) driven by androgen receptor (AR) is treated with androgen deprivation; however, therapy failure results in lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). AR-low/negative (ARL/-) CRPC subtypes have recently been characterized and cannot be targeted by hormonal therapies, resulting in poor prognosis. RNA-binding protein (RBP)/helicase DDX3 (DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked) is a key component of stress granules (SG) and is postulated to affect protein translation. Here, we investigated DDX3-mediated posttranscriptional regulation of AR mRNA (messenger RNA) in CRPC. Using patient samples and preclinical models, we objectively quantified DDX3 and AR expression in ARL/- CRPC. We utilized CRPC models to identify DDX3:AR mRNA complexes by RNA immunoprecipitation, assess the effects of DDX3 gain/loss-of-function on AR expression and signaling, and address clinical implications of targeting DDX3 by assessing sensitivity to AR-signaling inhibitors (ARSI) in CRPC xenografts in vivo. ARL/- CRPC expressed abundant AR mRNA despite diminished levels of AR protein. DDX3 protein was highly expressed in ARL/- CRPC, where it bound to AR mRNA. Consistent with a repressive regulatory role, DDX3 localized to cytoplasmic puncta with SG marker PABP1 in CRPC. While induction of DDX3-nucleated SGs resulted in decreased AR protein expression, inhibiting DDX3 was sufficient to restore 1) AR protein expression, 2) AR signaling, and 3) sensitivity to ARSI in vitro and in vivo. Our findings implicate the RBP protein DDX3 as a mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation for AR in CRPC. Clinically, DDX3 may be targetable for sensitizing ARL/- CRPC to AR-directed therapies.
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14
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Vellky JE, Ricke WA. Development and prevalence of castration-resistant prostate cancer subtypes. Neoplasia 2020; 22:566-575. [PMID: 32980775 PMCID: PMC7522286 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) occurs when prostate cancer (CaP) progresses under therapy-induced castrate conditions. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this acquired resistance, many of which are driven by androgen receptor (AR). Recent findings, however, sub-classified CRPC by downregulation/absence of AR in certain subtypes that consequently do not respond to anti-androgen therapies. To highlight the significance of CRPC sub-classification, we reviewed the development and treatment of CRPC, AR downregulation in CRPC, and summarized recent reports on the prevalence of CRPC subtypes. METHODS Using a medline-based literature search, we reviewed mechanisms of CRPC development, current treatment schemes, and assessed the prevalence of AR low/negative subtypes of CRPC. Additionally, we performed immunohistochemical staining on human CRPC specimens to quantify AR expression across CRPC subtypes. RESULTS In the majority of cases, CRPC continues to rely on AR signaling, which can be augmented in castrate-conditions through a variety of mechanisms. However, recently low/negative AR expression patterns were identified in a significant proportion of patient samples from a multitude of independent studies. In these AR low/negative cases, we postulated that AR protein may be downregulated by (1) promoter methylation, (2) transcriptional regulation, (3) post-transcriptional regulation by microRNA or RNA-binding-proteins, or (4) post-translational ubiquitination-mediated degradation. CONCLUSIONS Here, we discussed mechanisms of CRPC development and summarized the overall prevalence of CRPC subtypes; interestingly, AR low/negative CRPC represented a considerable proportion of diagnoses. Because these subtypes cannot be effectively treated with AR-targeted therapeutics, a better understanding of AR low/negative subtypes could lead to better treatment strategies and increased survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan E Vellky
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - William A Ricke
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA; George M. O'Brien Research Center of Excellence, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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15
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Prostate cancer recurrence mimicking invasive urothelial cancer of the bladder. Urol Case Rep 2020; 33:101421. [PMID: 33102118 PMCID: PMC7574274 DOI: 10.1016/j.eucr.2020.101421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A 74-year-old male patient with stage D1 prostate cancer with the initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 5570 ng/mL had received androgen deprivation therapy and the serum PSA level had decreased to 0.23 ng/mL when he developed macroscopic hematuria. MRI and cystoscopy suggested invasive urothelial cancer of the bladder, and transurethral resection was performed. The tumors were pathologically diagnosed as a Gleason score 9 prostate cancer with no PSA expression. Prostate cancer patients who develop novel symptoms should be screened for prostate cancer recurrence even if they have very low PSA levels.
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Ortega S, Halicek M, Fabelo H, Callico GM, Fei B. Hyperspectral and multispectral imaging in digital and computational pathology: a systematic review [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:3195-3233. [PMID: 32637250 PMCID: PMC7315999 DOI: 10.1364/boe.386338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and multispectral imaging (MSI) technologies have the potential to transform the fields of digital and computational pathology. Traditional digitized histopathological slides are imaged with RGB imaging. Utilizing HSI/MSI, spectral information across wavelengths within and beyond the visual range can complement spatial information for the creation of computer-aided diagnostic tools for both stained and unstained histological specimens. In this systematic review, we summarize the methods and uses of HSI/MSI for staining and color correction, immunohistochemistry, autofluorescence, and histopathological diagnostic research. Studies include hematology, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, skin cancer, and diseases of central nervous, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems. The use of HSI/MSI suggest an improvement in the detection of diseases and clinical practice compared with traditional RGB analysis, and brings new opportunities in histological analysis of samples, such as digital staining or alleviating the inter-laboratory variability of digitized samples. Nevertheless, the number of studies in this field is currently limited, and more research is needed to confirm the advantages of this technology compared to conventional imagery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ortega
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Martin Halicek
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Inst. of Tech. and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Himar Fabelo
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Gustavo M Callico
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Baowei Fei
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Advanced Imaging Research Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
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Wang Z, Deng T, Long X, Lin X, Wu S, Wang H, Ge R, Zhang Z, Wu CL, Taplin ME, Olumi AF. Methylation of SRD5A2 promoter predicts a better outcome for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229754. [PMID: 32134978 PMCID: PMC7058338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether SRD5A2 promoter methylation is associated with cancer progression during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in CRPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a Local CRPC cohort, 42 prostatic specimens were collected from patients who were diagnosed as CRPC and underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). In a metastatic CRPC (Met CRPC) cohort, 12 metastatic biopsies were collected from CRPC patients who would be treated with abiraterone plus dutasteride (Clinical Trial NCT01393730). As controls, 36 benign prostatic specimens were collected from patients undergoing prostate reduction surgery for symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The methylation status of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) site(s) at SRD5A2 promoter regions was tested. RESULTS Compared with benign prostatic tissue, CRPC samples demonstrated higher SRD5A2 methylation in the whole promoter region (Local CRPC cohort: P < 0.001; Met CRPC cohort: P <0.05). In Local CRPC cohort, a higher ratio of methylation was correlated with better OS (R2 = 0.33, P = 0.013). Hypermethylation of specific regions (nucleotides -434 to -4 [CpG# -39 to CpG# -2]) was associated with a better OS (11.3±5.8 vs 6.4±4.4 years, P = 0.001) and PFS (8.4±5.4 vs 4.5±3.9 years, P = 0.003) with cutoff value of 37.9%. Multivariate analysis showed that SRD5A2 methylation was associated with OS independently (whole promoter region: P = 0.035; specific region: P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrate that SRD5A2 methylation in promoter regions, specifically at CpG# -39 to -2, is significantly associated with better survival for CRPC patients treated with ADT. Recognition of epigenetic modifications of SRD5A2 may affect the choices and sequence of available therapies for management of CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongwei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Tuo Deng
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, Guangzhou Institute of Urology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingbo Long
- Department of Urology, Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xueming Lin
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Urology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Shulin Wu
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Hongbo Wang
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Rongbin Ge
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Zhenwei Zhang
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Chin-Lee Wu
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Mary-Ellen Taplin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Aria F. Olumi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lombardi APG, Vicente CM, Porto CS. Estrogen Receptors Promote Migration, Invasion and Colony Formation of the Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells PC-3 Through β-Catenin Pathway. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:184. [PMID: 32328032 PMCID: PMC7160699 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is initially dependent on the androgen, gradually evolves into an androgen-independent form of the disease, also known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). At this stage, current therapies scantily improve survival of the patient. Androgens and estrogens are involved in normal prostate and prostate cancer development. The mechanisms by which estrogens/estrogen receptors (ERs) induce prostate cancer and promote prostate cancer progression have not yet been fully identified. Our laboratory has shown that androgen-independent prostate cancer cells PC-3 express both ERα and ERβ. The activation of ERβ increases the expression of β-catenin and proliferation of PC-3 cells. We now report that the activation of ERβ promotes the increase of migration, invasion and anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 cells. Furthermore, the activation of ERα also plays a role in invasion and anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 cells. These effects are blocked by pretreatment with PKF 118-310, compound that disrupts the complex β-catenin/TCF/LEF, suggesting that ERs/β-catenin are involved in all cellular characteristics of tumor development in vitro. Furthermore, PKF 118-310 also inhibited the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) induced by activation of ERs. VEGF also is involved on invasion of PC-3 cells. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the signatures and molecular mechanisms of ERβ in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells PC-3. ERα also plays a role on invasion and colony formation of PC-3 cells.
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Qi Z, Barrett T, Parikh AS, Tirosh I, Puram SV. Single-cell sequencing and its applications in head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol 2019; 99:104441. [PMID: 31689639 PMCID: PMC6981283 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.104441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), like many tumors, is characterized by significant intra-tumoral heterogeneity, namely transcriptional, genetic, and epigenetic differences that define distinct cellular subpopulations. While it has been established that intra-tumoral heterogeneity may have prognostic significance in HNSCC, we are only beginning to describe and define such heterogeneity at a cellular resolution. Recent advances in single-cell sequencing technologies have been critical in this regard, opening new avenues in our understanding of more nuanced tumor biology by identifying distinct cellular subpopulations, dissecting signaling within the tumor microenvironment, and characterizing cellular genomic mutations and copy number aberrations. The combined effect of these insights is likely to be robust and meaningful changes in existing diagnostic and treatment algorithms through the application of novel biomarkers as well as targeted therapeutics. Here, we review single-cell technological and computational advances at the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic levels, and discuss their applications in cancer research and clinical practice, with a specific focus on HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongtai Qi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
| | - Thomas Barrett
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
| | - Anuraag S Parikh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Itay Tirosh
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sidharth V Puram
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
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Vellky JE, Bauman TM, Ricke EA, Huang W, Ricke WA. Incidence of androgen receptor and androgen receptor variant 7 coexpression in prostate cancer. Prostate 2019; 79:1811-1822. [PMID: 31503366 PMCID: PMC7339117 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PRCA) is an androgen-driven disease, where androgens act through the androgen receptor (AR) to induce proliferation and survival of tumor cells. Recently, AR splice variant 7 (ARv7) has been implicated in advanced stages of PRCA and clinical recurrence. With the widespread use of AR-targeted therapies, there has been a rising interest in the expression of full-length AR and ARv7 in PRCA progression and how these receptors, both independently and together, contribute to adverse clinicopathologic outcomes. METHODS Despite a multitude of studies measuring the expression levels of AR and ARv7 in PRCA progression, the results have been inconsistent and sometimes contradictory due to technical and analytical discrepancies. To circumvent these inconsistencies, we used an automated multiplexed immunostaining platform for full-length AR and ARv7 in human PRCA samples and objectively quantified expression changes with machine learning-based software. With this technology, we can assess receptor prevalence both independently, and coexpressed, within specific tissue and cellular compartments. RESULTS Full-length AR and ARv7 expression increased in epithelial nuclei of metastatic samples compared to benign. Interestingly, a population of cells with undetectable AR persisted through all stages of PRCA progression. Coexpression analyses showed an increase of the double-positive (AR+ /ARv7+ ) population in metastases compared to benign, and an increase of the double-negative population in PRCA samples compared to benign. Importantly, analysis of clinicopathologic outcomes associated with AR/ARv7 coexpression showed a significant decrease in the double-positive population with higher Gleason score (GS), as well as in samples with recurrence in under 5 years. Conversely, the double-negative population was significantly increased in samples with higher GS and in samples with recurrence in under 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Changes in AR and ARv7 coexpression may have prognostic value in PRCA progression and recurrence. A better understanding of the prevalence and clinicopathologic outcomes associated with changes in these receptors' coexpression may provide a foundation for improved diagnosis and therapy for men with PRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan E. Vellky
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
| | - Tyler M. Bauman
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Division of Urology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4921 Parkview Pl., St. Louis, MO, USA 63110
| | - Emily A. Ricke
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- George M. O’Brien Research Center of Excellence, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
| | - Wei Huang
- George M. O’Brien Research Center of Excellence, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53705
| | - William A. Ricke
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- George M. O’Brien Research Center of Excellence, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, USA, 53705
- Corresponding Author: Dr. William Ricke, Director of Research, Department of Urology, 7107 Wisconsin Institute of Medical Research, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, USA 53705. Office 608-265-3202 Fax 608-265-0614,
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Sachdeva G, Desouza J, Gadkar S, Jagtap D. Size, site, and signaling: Three attributes of estrogen receptors. BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH JOURNAL 2019. [DOI: 10.4103/bmrj.bmrj_24_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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