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Rawat C, Heemers HV. Alternative splicing in prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Oncogene 2024; 43:1655-1668. [PMID: 38658776 PMCID: PMC11136669 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03036-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (CaP) remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in western men. CaP mortality results from diverse molecular mechanisms that mediate resistance to the standard of care treatments for metastatic disease. Recently, alternative splicing has been recognized as a hallmark of CaP aggressiveness. Alternative splicing events cause treatment resistance and aggressive CaP behavior and are determinants of the emergence of the two major types of late-stage treatment-resistant CaP, namely castration-resistant CaP (CRPC) and neuroendocrine CaP (NEPC). Here, we review recent multi-omics data that are uncovering the complicated landscape of alternative splicing events during CaP progression and the impact that different gene transcript isoforms can have on CaP cell biology and behavior. We discuss renewed insights in the molecular machinery by which alternative splicing occurs and contributes to the failure of systemic CaP therapies. The potential for alternative splicing events to serve as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets is explored. We conclude by considering current challenges and promises associated with splicing-modulating therapies, and their potential for clinical translation into CaP patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Rawat
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Hannelore V Heemers
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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2
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Martinez MJ, Lyles RD, Peinetti N, Grunfeld AM, Burnstein KL. Inhibition of the serine/threonine kinase BUB1 reverses taxane resistance in prostate cancer. iScience 2023; 26:107681. [PMID: 37705955 PMCID: PMC10495664 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Men with incurable castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are typically treated with taxanes; however, drug resistance rapidly develops. We previously identified a clinically relevant seven gene network in aggressive CRPC, which includes the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) kinase BUB1. Since SAC is deregulated in taxane resistant PC, we evaluated BUB1 and found that it was over-expressed in advanced PC patient datasets and taxane resistant PC cells. Treatment with a specific BUB1 kinase inhibitor re-sensitized resistant CRPC cells, including cells expressing constitutively active androgen receptor (AR) variants, to clinically used taxanes. Consistent with a role of AR variants in taxane resistance, ectopically expressed AR-V7 increased BUB1 levels and reduced sensitivity to taxanes. This work shows that disruption of BUB1 kinase activity reverted resistance to taxanes, which is essential to advancing BUB1 as a potential therapeutic target for intractable chemotherapy resistant CRPC including AR variant driven CRPC, which lacks durable treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Martinez
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Rolando D.Z. Lyles
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Nahuel Peinetti
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alex M. Grunfeld
- Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Kerry L. Burnstein
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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3
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Sanchez-Hernandez ES, Ochoa PT, Suzuki T, Ortiz-Hernandez GL, Unternaehrer JJ, Alkashgari HR, Diaz Osterman CJ, Martinez SR, Chen Z, Kremsky I, Wang C, Casiano CA. Glucocorticoid Receptor Regulates and Interacts with LEDGF/p75 to Promote Docetaxel Resistance in Prostate Cancer Cells. Cells 2023; 12:2046. [PMID: 37626856 PMCID: PMC10453226 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) invariably develop resistance to anti-androgen therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been implicated in PCa therapy resistance; however, the mechanisms underlying GR-mediated chemoresistance remain unclear. Lens epithelium-derived growth factor p75 (LEDGF/p75, also known as PSIP1 and DFS70) is a glucocorticoid-induced transcription co-activator implicated in cancer chemoresistance. We investigated the contribution of the GR-LEDGF/p75 axis to docetaxel (DTX)-resistance in PCa cells. GR silencing in DTX-sensitive and -resistant PCa cells decreased LEDGF/p75 expression, and GR upregulation in enzalutamide-resistant cells correlated with increased LEDGF/p75 expression. ChIP-sequencing revealed GR binding sites in the LEDGF/p75 promoter. STRING protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that GR and LEDGF/p75 belong to the same transcriptional network, and immunochemical studies demonstrated their co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization in DTX-resistant cells. The GR modulators exicorilant and relacorilant increased the sensitivity of chemoresistant PCa cells to DTX-induced cell death, and this effect was more pronounced upon LEDGF/p75 silencing. RNA-sequencing of DTX-resistant cells with GR or LEDGF/p75 knockdown revealed a transcriptomic overlap targeting signaling pathways associated with cell survival and proliferation, cancer, and therapy resistance. These studies implicate the GR-LEDGF/p75 axis in PCa therapy resistance and provide a pre-clinical rationale for developing novel therapeutic strategies for advanced PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn S. Sanchez-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
| | - Pedro T. Ochoa
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
| | - Tise Suzuki
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
| | - Greisha L. Ortiz-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
| | - Juli J. Unternaehrer
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
| | - Hossam R. Alkashgari
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos J. Diaz Osterman
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (C.J.D.O.); (S.R.M.)
| | - Shannalee R. Martinez
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (C.J.D.O.); (S.R.M.)
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
- Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Isaac Kremsky
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
- Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
- Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Carlos A. Casiano
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (E.S.S.-H.); (T.S.); (G.L.O.-H.); (J.J.U.); (H.R.A.)
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (Z.C.); (I.K.); (C.W.)
- Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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Martinez SR, Elix CC, Ochoa PT, Sanchez-Hernandez ES, Alkashgari HR, Ortiz-Hernandez GL, Zhang L, Casiano CA. Glucocorticoid Receptor and β-Catenin Interact in Prostate Cancer Cells and Their Co-Inhibition Attenuates Tumorsphere Formation, Stemness, and Docetaxel Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087130. [PMID: 37108293 PMCID: PMC10139020 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapy resistance hinders the efficacy of anti-androgen therapies and taxane-based chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling mediates resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) and has also been recently implicated in PCa resistance to docetaxel (DTX), suggesting a role in therapy cross-resistance. Like GR, β-catenin is upregulated in metastatic and therapy-resistant tumors and is a crucial regulator of cancer stemness and ARSI resistance. β-catenin interacts with AR to promote PCa progression. Given the structural and functional similarities between AR and GR, we hypothesized that β-catenin also interacts with GR to influence PCa stemness and chemoresistance. As expected, we observed that treatment with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone promotednuclear accumulation of GR and active β-catenin in PCa cells. Co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that GR and β-catenin interact in DTX-resistant and DTX-sensitive PCa cells. Pharmacological co-inhibition of GR and β-catenin, using the GR modulator CORT-108297 and the selective β-catenin inhibitor MSAB, enhanced cytotoxicity in DTX-resistant PCa cells grown in adherent and spheroid cultures and decreased CD44+/CD24- cell populations in tumorspheres. These results indicate that GR and β-catenin influence cell survival, stemness, and tumorsphere formation in DTX-resistant cells. Their co-inhibition could be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome PCa therapy cross-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannalee R Martinez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Catherine C Elix
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Pedro T Ochoa
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Evelyn S Sanchez-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Hossam R Alkashgari
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Greisha L Ortiz-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Carlos A Casiano
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Division, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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5
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van der Meel R, Chen S, Zaifman J, Kulkarni JA, Zhang XRS, Tam YK, Bally MB, Schiffelers RM, Ciufolini MA, Cullis PR, Tam YYC. Modular Lipid Nanoparticle Platform Technology for siRNA and Lipophilic Prodrug Delivery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2103025. [PMID: 34337865 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Successfully employing small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics requires the use of nanotechnology for efficient intracellular delivery. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have enabled the approval of various nucleic acid therapeutics. A major advantage of LNPs is the interchangeability of its building blocks and RNA payload, which allow it to be a highly modular system. In addition, drug derivatization approaches can be used to synthesize lipophilic small molecule prodrugs that stably incorporate in LNPs. This provides ample opportunities to develop combination therapies by co-encapsulating multiple therapeutic agents in a single formulation. Here, it is described how the modular LNP platform is applied for combined gene silencing and chemotherapy to induce additive anticancer effects. It is shown that various lipophilic taxane prodrug derivatives and siRNA against the androgen receptor, a prostate cancer driver, can be efficiently and stably co-encapsulated in LNPs without compromising physicochemical properties or gene-silencing ability. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the combination therapy induces additive therapeutic effects in vitro. Using a double-radiolabeling approach, the pharmacokinetic properties and biodistribution of LNPs and prodrugs following systemic administration in tumor-bearing mice are quantitatively determined. These results indicate that co-encapsulating siRNA and lipophilic prodrugs into LNPs is an attractive and straightforward plug-and-play approach for combination therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
| | - Josh Zaifman
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Xu Ran S Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z7, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Raymond M Schiffelers
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Marco A Ciufolini
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yuen Yi C Tam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
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Prognostic Significance of Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071649. [PMID: 33916028 PMCID: PMC8037088 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In solid tumours, emerging evidence indicates that signalling through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can encourage the growth and spread of tumours and so drugs targeting this receptor are in development for use in cancer treatment. For these reasons, GR may be useful in anticipating a patient’s outcome upon their cancer diagnosis or to predict their tumours response to drugs targeting this receptor. In this review we aim to ascertain whether GR expression in tumours affects cancer patient survival. Overall, GR expression did not affect patient survival when assessing all cancer types. However, we found that in certain cancer subtypes such as gynaecological cancers (endometrial and ovarian) and early stage, untreated triple negative breast cancers, high GR expression is linked with cancer progression and therefore a poorer patient prognosis. Further studies are needed to uncover the exact role of GR in specific tumour (sub)types in order to provide the correct patients with GR targeting therapies. Abstract In solid malignancies, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signalling axis is associated with tumour progression and GR antagonists are in clinical development. Therefore, GR expression may be a useful potential prognostic or predictive biomarker for GR antagonist therapy in cancer. The aim of this review is to investigate if GR expression in tumours is predictive of overall survival or progression free survival. Twenty-five studies were identified through systematic searches of three databases and a meta-analysis conducted using a random effects model, quantifying statistical heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was conducted for cancer types and publication bias was assessed via funnel plots. There was high heterogeneity in meta-analysis of the studies in all cancer types, which found no association between high GR expression with overall survival (pooled unadjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI (0.89–1.50), n = 2814; pooled adjusted HR 1.02, 95% CI (0.77–1.37), n = 2355) or progression-free survival (pooled unadjusted HR 1.12, 95% CI (0.88–1.42), n = 3365; pooled adjusted HR 1.04, 95% CI (0.6–1.81), n = 582) across all cancer types. However, subgroup meta-analyses showed that high GR expression in gynaecological cancers (endometrial and ovarian) (unadjusted HR 1.83, 95% CI (1.31–2.56), n = 664) and early stage, untreated triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) (unadjusted HR 1.73, 95% CI (1.35–2.23), n = 687) is associated with disease progression. GR expression in late stage, chemotherapy treated TNBC was not prognostic (unadjusted HR 0.76, 95% CI (0.44, 1.32), n = 287). In conclusion, high GR expression is associated with an increased risk of disease progression in gynaecological and early stage, untreated TNBC. Additional studies are required to elucidate the tumour specific function of the GR receptor in order to ensure GR antagonists target the correct patient groups.
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