1
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Cole RN, Fang Q, Wang Z. Androgen receptor nucleocytoplasmic trafficking - A one-way journey. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023; 576:112009. [PMID: 37414131 PMCID: PMC10528972 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a key regulator of the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer. The majority of lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) growth is still dependent on AR activity. The AR need to be in the nucleus to exert its biological action as a transcription factor. As such, defining the mechanisms that regulate the subcellular localization of AR are important. Previously it was believed that AR was imported into the nucleus in a ligand-dependent manner and subsequently exported out of the nucleus upon ligand withdrawal. Recent evidence has challenged this decades-old paradigm and showed that the AR is degraded, not exported, in the nucleus. This review discusses the current understanding of how AR nucleocytoplasmic localization is regulated by import and through nuclear degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N Cole
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qinghua Fang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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2
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Yi Q, Liu W, Seo JH, Su J, Alaoui-Jamali MA, Luo J, Lin R, Wu JH. Discovery of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting the Androgen Receptor N-Terminal Domain for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:570-582. [PMID: 37139712 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The current mainstay therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer is to suppress androgen receptor (AR) signaling. However, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) invariably arises with restored AR signaling activity. To date, the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) is the only targeted region for all clinically available AR signaling antagonists, such as enzalutamide (ENZ). Major resistance mechanisms have been uncovered to sustain the AR signaling in CRPC despite these treatments, including AR amplification, AR LBD mutants, and the emergence of AR splice variants (AR-Vs) such as AR-V7. AR-V7 is a constitutively active truncated form of AR that lacks the LBD; thus, it can not be inhibited by AR LBD-targeting drugs. Therefore, an approach to inhibit AR through the regions outside of LBD is urgently needed. In this study, we have discovered a novel small molecule SC428, which directly binds to the AR N-terminal domain (NTD) and exhibits pan-AR inhibitory effect. SC428 potently decreased the transactivation of AR-V7, ARv567es, as well as full-length AR (AR-FL) and its LBD mutants. SC428 substantially suppressed androgen-stimulated AR-FL nuclear translocation, chromatin binding, and AR-regulated gene transcription. Moreover, SC428 also significantly attenuated AR-V7-mediated AR signaling that does not rely on androgen, hampered AR-V7 nuclear localization, and disrupted AR-V7 homodimerization. SC428 inhibited in vitro proliferation and in vivo tumor growth of cells that expressed a high level of AR-V7 and were unresponsive to ENZ treatment. Together, these results indicated the potential therapeutic benefits of AR-NTD targeting for overcoming drug resistance in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Yi
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Weiguo Liu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jung Hwa Seo
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jie Su
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Moulay A Alaoui-Jamali
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jun Luo
- Urology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rongtuan Lin
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jian Hui Wu
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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3
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Meszaros A, Ahmed J, Russo G, Tompa P, Lazar T. The evolution and polymorphism of mono-amino acid repeats in androgen receptor and their regulatory role in health and disease. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1019803. [PMID: 36388907 PMCID: PMC9642029 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1019803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) is a key member of nuclear hormone receptors with the longest intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain (NTD) in its protein family. There are four mono-amino acid repeats (polyQ1, polyQ2, polyG, and polyP) located within its NTD, of which two are polymorphic (polyQ1 and polyG). The length of both polymorphic repeats shows clinically important correlations with disease, especially with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as shorter and longer alleles exhibit significant differences in expression, activity and solubility. Importantly, AR has also been shown to undergo condensation in the nucleus by liquid-liquid phase separation, a process highly sensitive to protein solubility and concentration. Nonetheless, in prostate cancer cells, AR variants also partition into transcriptional condensates, which have been shown to alter the expression of target gene products. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the link between AR repeat polymorphisms and cancer types, including mechanistic explanations and models comprising the relationship between condensate formation, polyQ1 length and transcriptional activity. Moreover, we outline the evolutionary paths of these recently evolved amino acid repeats across mammalian species, and discuss new research directions with potential breakthroughs and controversies in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Meszaros
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junaid Ahmed
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giorgio Russo
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences (RCNS), ELKH, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamas Lazar
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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4
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Huang J, Lin B, Li B. Anti-Androgen Receptor Therapies in Prostate Cancer: A Brief Update and Perspective. Front Oncol 2022; 12:865350. [PMID: 35372068 PMCID: PMC8965587 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.865350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a major health issue in western countries and is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Prostate cancer depends on the androgen receptor (AR), a transcriptional factor critical for prostate cancer growth and progression. Castration by surgery or medical treatment reduces androgen levels, resulting in prostatic atrophy and prostate cancer regression. Thus, metastatic prostate cancers are initially managed with androgen deprivation therapy. Unfortunately, prostate cancers rapidly relapse after castration therapy and progress to a disease stage called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently, clinical treatment for CRPCs is focused on suppressing AR activity with antagonists like Enzalutamide or by reducing androgen production with Abiraterone. In clinical practice, these treatments fail to yield a curative benefit in CRPC patients in part due to AR gene mutations or splicing variations, resulting in AR reactivation. It is conceivable that eliminating the AR protein in prostate cancer cells is a promising solution to provide a potential curative outcome. Multiple strategies have emerged, and several potent agents that reduce AR protein levels were reported to eliminate xenograft tumor growth in preclinical models via distinct mechanisms, including proteasome-mediated degradation, heat-shock protein inhibition, AR splicing suppression, blockage of AR nuclear localization, AR N-terminal suppression. A few small chemical compounds are undergoing clinical trials combined with existing AR antagonists. AR protein elimination by enhanced protein or mRNA degradation is a realistic solution for avoiding AR reactivation during androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Pathological Diagnosis and Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Biyun Lin
- Pathological Diagnosis and Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Benyi Li
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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5
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Cole R, Pascal LE, Wang Z. The classical and updated models of androgen receptor nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL UROLOGY 2021; 9:287-291. [PMID: 34541027 PMCID: PMC8446772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This mini-review covers the classical model of androgen receptor (AR) nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and provides an overview of new data that updates the existing paradigm. The classical model of androgen receptor trafficking involves AR translocating to the nucleus in the presence of androgens and subsequently being exported back to the cytoplasm following the withdrawal of androgens. New data challenges and updates the fate of nuclear AR. In the updated model, the AR can be imported into the nucleus in the absence of androgens and nuclear AR is degraded, not exported. Further, androgens can enhance AR nuclear import and inhibit AR degradation in the nucleus; androgen withdrawal causes nuclear AR degradation, but not export. Enhanced androgen-independent AR nuclear localization and AR nuclear stability may be a hallmark of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Further characterization of AR trafficking may aid in the development of new therapies for patients with CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Cole
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Laura E Pascal
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
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6
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Tran TT, Song CH, Kim KJ, Lee K. A new compound targets the AF-1 of androgen receptor and decreases its activity and protein levels in prostate cancer cells. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:4607-4623. [PMID: 33415022 PMCID: PMC7783748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased expression levels of constitutively active androgen receptor splice variants (AR-Vs) cause alterations in AR signaling, resulting in drug resistance and failed hormone therapy among patients with advanced prostate cancers. Several available compounds targeting the androgen axis and AR signaling have not demonstrated efficacy in preventing prostate cancer recurrence. Here, we investigated whether a new agent, 6-[6-ethoxy-5-ispropoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2[1H)-yl]-N-[6-methylpyridin-2-yl]nicotinamide (EIQPN), has the potential for treating advanced prostate cancer. EIQPN interacted with the AR-activation fragment-1 (AF-1) domain and blocked its androgen-independent activity, robustly decreased the protein levels of AR and variants in prostate cancer cells by inducing AR protein degradation, and inhibited the androgen-independent proliferation of various AR-positive prostate cancer cells. In xenograft mouse models, EIQPN blocked the tumor growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Overall, these findings indicate that EIQPN could serve as a novel therapeutic agent for advanced recurrent prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyen Thanh Tran
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University Gwangju, Korea
| | - Chin-Hee Song
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University Gwangju, Korea
| | - Kyung-Jin Kim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University Gwangju, Korea
| | - Keesook Lee
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University Gwangju, Korea
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7
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Dong J, Wu Z, Wang D, Pascal LE, Nelson JB, Wipf P, Wang Z. Hsp70 Binds to the Androgen Receptor N-terminal Domain and Modulates the Receptor Function in Prostate Cancer Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 18:39-50. [PMID: 30297360 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a key driver and therapeutic target in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and CRPC resistant to abiraterone and enzalutamide, two second-generation inhibitors of AR signaling. Because current AR inhibitors target a functioning C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD), the identification and characterization of cofactors interacting with the N-terminal domain (NTD) of AR may lead to new approaches to target AR signaling in CRPC. Using a pull-down approach coupled with proteomics, we have identified Hsp70 as a cofactor for the NTD of AR in prostate cancer cells. Hsp70 inhibition using siRNA or small molecules indicated that Hsp70 played an important role in the expression and transactivation of endogenous AR. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) promoter/enhancer-driven luciferase assays showed that Hsp70 was also required for transactivation of AR mutant lacking LBD. Furthermore, clonogenic assays showed that an Hsp70 inhibitor, either alone or in synergy with enzalutamide, can inhibit the proliferation of 22Rv1, a widely used enzalutamide-resistant CRPC prostate cancer cell line. These findings suggest that Hsp70 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of enzalutamide-resistant CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Dong
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeyu Wu
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Laura E Pascal
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joel B Nelson
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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8
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Johnston PA, Nguyen MM, Dar JA, Ai J, Wang Y, Masoodi KZ, Shun T, Shinde S, Camarco DP, Hua Y, Huryn DM, Wilson GM, Lazo JS, Nelson JB, Wipf P, Wang Z. Development and Implementation of a High-Throughput High-Content Screening Assay to Identify Inhibitors of Androgen Receptor Nuclear Localization in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2017; 14:226-39. [PMID: 27187604 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2016.716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) can be treated with abiraterone, a potent inhibitor of androgen synthesis, or enzalutamide, a second-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, both targeting AR signaling. However, most patients relapse after several months of therapy and a majority of patients with relapsed CRPC tumors express the AR target gene prostate-specific antigen (PSA), suggesting that AR signaling is reactivated and can be targeted again to inhibit the relapsed tumors. Novel small molecules capable of inhibiting AR function may lead to urgently needed therapies for patients resistant to abiraterone, enzalutamide, and/or other previously approved antiandrogen therapies. Here, we describe a high-throughput high-content screening (HCS) campaign to identify small-molecule inhibitors of AR nuclear localization in the C4-2 CRPC cell line stably transfected with GFP-AR-GFP (2GFP-AR). The implementation of this HCS assay to screen a National Institutes of Health library of 219,055 compounds led to the discovery of 3 small molecules capable of inhibiting AR nuclear localization and function in C4-2 cells, demonstrating the feasibility of using this cell-based phenotypic assay to identify small molecules targeting the subcellular localization of AR. Furthermore, the three hit compounds provide opportunities to develop novel AR drugs with potential for therapeutic intervention in CRPC patients who have relapsed after treatment with antiandrogens, such as abiraterone and/or enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Johnston
- 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,2 University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Minh M Nguyen
- 3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Javid A Dar
- 3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,4 Central Laboratory, College of Science, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Junkui Ai
- 3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yujuan Wang
- 3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Khalid Z Masoodi
- 3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,5 Transcriptomics and Proteomics Lab, Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) , Shalimar, Srinagar, India
| | - Tongying Shun
- 6 Pittsburgh Specialized Application Center, University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sunita Shinde
- 6 Pittsburgh Specialized Application Center, University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel P Camarco
- 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yun Hua
- 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Donna M Huryn
- 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,7 University of Pittsburgh Chemical Diversity Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gabriela Mustata Wilson
- 8 Department of Health Services and Health Administration, College of Nursing and Health Professions, University of Southern Indiana , Evansville, Indiana
| | - John S Lazo
- 9 Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry, University of Virginia , Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Joel B Nelson
- 2 University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Peter Wipf
- 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,2 University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,7 University of Pittsburgh Chemical Diversity Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,10 Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhou Wang
- 2 University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,3 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,11 Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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9
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Masoodi KZ, Xu Y, Dar JA, Eisermann K, Pascal LE, Parrinello E, Ai J, Johnston PA, Nelson JB, Wipf P, Wang Z. Inhibition of Androgen Receptor Nuclear Localization and Castration-Resistant Prostate Tumor Growth by Pyrroloimidazole-based Small Molecules. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:2120-2129. [PMID: 28655783 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that controls the expression of androgen-responsive genes. A key step in androgen action, which is amplified in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), is AR nuclear translocation. Small molecules capable of inhibiting AR nuclear localization could be developed as novel therapeutics for CRPC. We developed a high-throughput screen and identified two structurally-related pyrroloimidazoles that could block AR nuclear localization in CRPC cells. We show that these two small molecules, 3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole (EPPI) and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole (CPPI) can inhibit the nuclear localization and transcriptional activity of AR and reduce the proliferation of AR-positive but not AR-negative prostate cancer cell lines. EPPI and CPPI did not inhibit nuclear localization of the glucocorticoid receptor or the estrogen receptor, suggesting they selectively target AR. In LNCaP tumor xenografts, CPPI inhibited the proliferation of relapsed LNCaP tumors. These findings suggest that EPPI and CPPI could serve as lead structures for the development of therapeutic agents for CRPC. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(10); 2120-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Z Masoodi
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Transcriptomics Lab, Division of Plant Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Yadong Xu
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan 410011, China.,The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Javid A Dar
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Central Laboratory College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kurtis Eisermann
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Laura E Pascal
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Erica Parrinello
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Junkui Ai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Paul A Johnston
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joel B Nelson
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Peter Wipf
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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10
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Monaghan AE, McEwan IJ. A sting in the tail: the N-terminal domain of the androgen receptor as a drug target. Asian J Androl 2017; 18:687-94. [PMID: 27212126 PMCID: PMC5000789 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.181081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of androgen receptor (AR) in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) is well established. Competitive inhibition of the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) has been the staple of antiandrogen therapies employed to combat the disease in recent years. However, their efficacy has often been limited by the emergence of resistance, mediated through point mutations, and receptor truncations. As a result, the prognosis for patients with malignant castrate resistant disease remains poor. The amino-terminal domain (NTD) of the AR has been shown to be critical for AR function. Its modular activation function (AF-1) is important for both gene regulation and participation in protein-protein interactions. However, due to the intrinsically disordered structure of the domain, its potential as a candidate for therapeutic intervention has been dismissed in the past. The recent emergence of the small molecule EPI-001 has provided evidence that AR-NTD can be targeted therapeutically, independent of the LBD. Targeting of AR-NTD has the potential to disrupt multiple intermolecular interactions between AR and its coregulatory binding partners, in addition to intramolecular cross-talk between the domains of the AR. Therapeutics targeting these protein-protein interactions or NTD directly should also have efficacy against emerging AR splice variants which may play a role in PCa progression. This review will discuss the role of intrinsic disorder in AR function and illustrate how emerging therapies might target NTD in PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Monaghan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Iain J McEwan
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom
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11
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Wang D, Nguyen MM, Masoodi KZ, Singh P, Jing Y, O'Malley K, Dar JA, Dhir R, Wang Z. Splicing Factor Prp8 Interacts With NES(AR) and Regulates Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer Cells. Mol Endocrinol 2015; 29:1731-42. [PMID: 26371515 DOI: 10.1210/me.2015-1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role in the development of primary as well as advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer. Previous work in our lab identified a novel nuclear export signal (NES) (NES(AR)) in AR ligand-binding domain essential for AR nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. By characterizing the localization of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged NES(AR), we designed and executed a yeast mutagenesis screen and isolated 7 yeast mutants that failed to display the NES(AR) export function. One of those mutants was identified as the splicing factor pre-mRNA processing factor 8 (Prp8). We further showed that Prp8 could regulate NES(AR) function using short hairpin RNA knockdown of Prp8 coupled with a rapamycin export assay in mammalian cells and knockdown of Prp8 could induce nuclear accumulation of GFP-tagged AR in PC3 cells. Prp8 expression was decreased in castration-resistant LuCaP35 xenograft tumors as compared with androgen-sensitive xenografts. Laser capture microdissection and quantitative PCR showed Prp8 mRNA levels were decreased in human prostate cancer specimens with high Gleason scores. In prostate cancer cells, coimmunoprecipitation and deletion mutagenesis revealed a physical interaction between Prp8 and AR mainly mediated by NES(AR). Luciferase assay with prostate specific antigen promoter-driven reporter demonstrated that Prp8 regulated AR transcription activity in prostate cancer cells. Interestingly, Prp8 knockdown also increased polyubiquitination of endogenous AR. This may be 1 possible mechanism by which it modulates AR activity. These results show that Prp8 is a novel AR cofactor that interacts with NES(AR) and regulates AR function in prostate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Minh M Nguyen
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Khalid Z Masoodi
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Prabhpreet Singh
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yifeng Jing
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Katherine O'Malley
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Javid A Dar
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Rajiv Dhir
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zhou Wang
- Departments of Urology (D.W., M.M.N., K.Z.M., P.S., Y.J., K.O., J.A.D., Z.W.), Pharmacology and Chemical Biology (Z.W.), and Pathology (R.D., Z.W.) and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (R.D., Z.W.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232; and Department of Urology (Y.J.), The First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
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