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Wang W, Albadari N, Du Y, Fowler JF, Sang HT, Xian W, McKeon F, Li W, Zhou J, Zhang R. MDM2 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: The Past, Present, and Future. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:414-453. [PMID: 38697854 PMCID: PMC11068841 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.001026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery over 35 years ago, MDM2 has emerged as an attractive target for the development of cancer therapy. MDM2's activities extend from carcinogenesis to immunity to the response to various cancer therapies. Since the report of the first MDM2 inhibitor more than 30 years ago, various approaches to inhibit MDM2 have been attempted, with hundreds of small-molecule inhibitors evaluated in preclinical studies and numerous molecules tested in clinical trials. Although many MDM2 inhibitors and degraders have been evaluated in clinical trials, there is currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MDM2 inhibitor on the market. Nevertheless, there are several current clinical trials of promising agents that may overcome the past failures, including agents granted FDA orphan drug or fast-track status. We herein summarize the research efforts to discover and develop MDM2 inhibitors, focusing on those that induce MDM2 degradation and exert anticancer activity, regardless of the p53 status of the cancer. We also describe how preclinical and clinical investigations have moved toward combining MDM2 inhibitors with other agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions to accelerate the clinical application of MDM2 inhibitors. In conclusion, targeting MDM2 remains a promising treatment approach, and targeting MDM2 for protein degradation represents a novel strategy to downregulate MDM2 without the side effects of the existing agents blocking p53-MDM2 binding. Additional preclinical and clinical investigations are needed to finally realize the full potential of MDM2 inhibition in treating cancer and other chronic diseases where MDM2 has been implicated. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Overexpression/amplification of the MDM2 oncogene has been detected in various human cancers and is associated with disease progression, treatment resistance, and poor patient outcomes. This article reviews the previous, current, and emerging MDM2-targeted therapies and summarizes the preclinical and clinical studies combining MDM2 inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens. The findings of these contemporary studies may lead to safer and more effective treatments for patients with cancers overexpressing MDM2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Najah Albadari
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Yi Du
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Josef F Fowler
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Hannah T Sang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Wa Xian
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Frank McKeon
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Ruiwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
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2
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Li W, Wang Z. Ubiquitination Process Mediates Prostate Cancer Development and Metastasis through Multiple Mechanisms. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024; 82:77-90. [PMID: 37847340 PMCID: PMC10866789 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01156-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: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignant tumor in men, when the disease progresses to the advanced stage, most patients will develop distant metastasis and develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), resulting in increased mortality. Ubiquitination is a widespread protein post-translational modification process in the biological world, and it plays an important role in the development and transfer of PCa. E3 ubiquitin ligase plays an important role in the specific selection and role of substrates in the process of ubiquitination ligase. This review will briefly introduce the ubiquitination process and E3 ubiquitin ligase, focus on the recently discovered multiple mechanisms by which ubiquitination affects PCa development and metastasis, and a summary of the current emerging proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC) in the treatment of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
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3
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Chahdi A, Jorgez C, Seth A. Regulation of androgen receptor stability by the β 1 Pix/STUB1 complex. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23408. [PMID: 38197270 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301100r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is essential in the development and differentiation of testes and male genitalia. AR expression is tightly regulated at the translational and posttranslational levels. AR posttranscriptional regulation is a major determinant of AR availability since AR is a direct target of E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1. Our work indicated that the Rac/Cdc42 guanosine triphosphatase guanine nucleotide exchange factor, β1 Pix, enhanced AR levels after AR stimulation in HEK293 and HeLa cells. AR stimulation decreased AR ubiquitination which is accompanied by increased β1 Pix binding to AR. Ectopic expression of β1 Pix decreased AR ubiquitination in Tm4 and HEK293 cells. We demonstrated that the formation of a multimolecular complex comprised of AR/β1 Pix/STUB1 responded in a time-dependent manner to AR stimulation. β1 Pix binding dissociated STUB1 from AR and thus prevented STUB1 from catalyzing receptor ubiquitination. β1 Pix enhanced AR transcriptional activity and increased AR target gene expression. Irrespective of treatment, immunofluorescence analysis showed a strong nuclear colocalization of endogenous AR and endogenous βPix in Tm4 cells. However, using Tm4 cell fractionation, AR stimulation decreased βPix/AR association in the cytosolic fraction and increased binding of AR to βPix in the nuclear fraction. To support the role of β1 Pix in androgen regulation, we found that individuals lacking this gene have a significant increase in genitourinary malformations associated with androgen dysfunction. Our data indicate that β1 Pix is an important modulator of AR stability and ligand-dependent AR transcriptional activity. We propose that β1 Pix could serve as a promising therapeutic target to modulate AR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Chahdi
- Department of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Carolina Jorgez
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Abhishek Seth
- Department of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health, Orlando, Florida, USA
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
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Khatiwada P, Rimal U, Han Z, Shemshedini L. MDM2 regulates the stability of AR, AR-V7, and TM4SF3 proteins in prostate cancer. ENDOCRINE ONCOLOGY (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2024; 4:e230017. [PMID: 38410785 PMCID: PMC10895308 DOI: 10.1530/eo-23-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) and its constitutively active splice variant, AR Variant 7 (AR-V7), regulate genes essential for the development and progression of prostate cancer. Degradation of AR and AR-V7 by the ubiquitination proteasomal pathway is important for the regulation of both their protein stability. Our published results demonstrate that the interaction of TM4SF3 with either AR or AR-V7 leads to mutual stabilization due to a reduction in their ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. These results led us to search for a common E3 ligase for AR, AR-V7, and TM4SF3. Depletion by siRNA of several E3 ligases identified MDM2 as the common E3 ligase. MDM2 inhibition by siRNA depletion or using a pharmacological inhibitor (MDM2i) of its E3 ligase activity led to elevated levels of endogenous AR, AR-V7, and TM4SF3 in prostate cancer cells. MDM2 knockdown in PC-3 cells, which do not express AR, also increased TM4SF3, demonstrating that MDM2 affects the TM4SF3 protein independent of AR. We further demonstrate that MDM2i treatment reduced the ubiquitination of AR and TM4SF3, suggesting that MDM2 can induce the ubiquitination of these proteins. Increased AR and AR-V7 protein levels induced by MDM2i treatment resulted in the expected increased expression of AR-regulated genes and enhanced proliferation and migration of both LNCaP and Enzalutamide-resistant CWR-22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. Thus, our study expands the known roles of MDM2 in prostate cancer to include its potential involvement in the important mutual stabilization that TM4SF3 exhibits when interacting with either AR or AR-V7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabesh Khatiwada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
- Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ujjwal Rimal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | - Zhengyang Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lirim Shemshedini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
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5
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Rodriguez Tirado C, Wang C, Li X, Deng S, Gonzalez J, Johnson NA, Xu Y, Metang LA, Sundar Rajan M, Yang Y, Yin Y, Hofstad M, Raj GV, Zhang S, Lemoff A, He W, Fan J, Wang Y, Wang T, Mu P. UBE2J1 is the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme regulating androgen receptor degradation and antiandrogen resistance. Oncogene 2024; 43:265-280. [PMID: 38030789 PMCID: PMC10798893 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02890-5] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is primarily driven by aberrant Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling. Although there has been substantial advancement in antiandrogen therapies, resistance to these treatments remains a significant obstacle, often marked by continuous or enhanced AR signaling in resistant tumors. While the dysregulation of the ubiquitination-based protein degradation process is instrumental in the accumulation of oncogenic proteins, including AR, the molecular mechanism of ubiquitination-driven AR degradation remains largely undefined. We identified UBE2J1 as the critical E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme responsible for guiding AR ubiquitination and eventual degradation. The absence of UBE2J1, found in 5-15% of PCa patients, results in disrupted AR ubiquitination and degradation. This disruption leads to an accumulation of AR proteins, promoting resistance to antiandrogen treatments. By employing a ubiquitination-based AR degrader to adeptly restore AR ubiquitination, we reestablished AR degradation and inhibited the proliferation of antiandrogen-resistant PCa tumors. These findings underscore the fundamental role of UBE2J1 in AR degradation and illuminate an uncharted mechanism through which PCa maintains heightened AR protein levels, fostering resistance to antiandrogen therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Choushi Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Su Deng
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Julisa Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nickolas A Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yaru Xu
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lauren A Metang
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Medha Sundar Rajan
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuqiu Yang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi Yin
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mia Hofstad
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ganesh V Raj
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Song Zhang
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Wei He
- Accutar Biotechnology, Inc., Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Jie Fan
- Accutar Biotechnology, Inc., Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Yunguan Wang
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ping Mu
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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6
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Quintero JC, Díaz NF, Rodríguez-Dorantes M, Camacho-Arroyo I. Cancer Stem Cells and Androgen Receptor Signaling: Partners in Disease Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15085. [PMID: 37894767 PMCID: PMC10606328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015085] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells exhibit self-renewal, tumorigenesis, and a high differentiation potential. These cells have been detected in every type of cancer, and different signaling pathways can regulate their maintenance and proliferation. Androgen receptor signaling plays a relevant role in the pathophysiology of prostate cancer, promoting cell growth and differentiation processes. However, in the case of prostate cancer stem cells, the androgen receptor negatively regulates their maintenance and self-renewal. On the other hand, there is evidence that androgen receptor activity positively regulates the generation of cancer stem cells in other types of neoplasia, such as breast cancer or glioblastoma. Thus, the androgen receptor role in cancer stem cells depends on the cellular context. We aimed to analyze androgen receptor signaling in the maintenance and self-renewal of different types of cancer stem cells and its action on the expression of transcription factors and surface markers associated with stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Quintero
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 11000, Mexico;
| | - Néstor Fabián Díaz
- Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico;
| | | | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 11000, Mexico;
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7
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Zafar A, Khan MJ, Naeem A. MDM2- an indispensable player in tumorigenesis. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:6871-6883. [PMID: 37314603 PMCID: PMC10374471 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a well-recognized molecule for its oncogenic potential. Since its identification, various cancer-promoting roles of MDM2 such as growth stimulation, sustained angiogenesis, metabolic reprogramming, apoptosis evasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression have been established. Alterations in the expression levels of MDM2 occur in multiple types of cancers resulting in uncontrolled proliferation. The cellular processes are modulated by MDM2 through transcription, post-translational modifications, protein degradation, binding to cofactors, and subcellular localization. In this review, we discuss the precise role of deregulated MDM2 levels in modulating cellular functions to promote cancer growth. Moreover, we also briefly discuss the role of MDM2 in inducing resistance against anti-cancerous therapies thus limiting the benefits of cancerous treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasma Zafar
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, 45550 Pakistan
| | | | - Aisha Naeem
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 20057 Washington, DC U.S
- Qatar University Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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8
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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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9
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Targeted Degradation of Androgen Receptor by VNPP433-3β in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells Implicates Interaction with E3 Ligase MDM2 Resulting in Ubiquitin-Proteasomal Degradation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041198. [PMID: 36831540 PMCID: PMC9954018 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is a fast-evolving therapeutic strategy to target even the traditionally undruggable target proteins. Contrary to the traditional small-molecule inhibitors of enzyme or receptor antagonists that bind the active site pockets in the target protein, molecular glue degraders facilitate interaction of target proteins with E3 ubiquitin ligases by stabilizing the ternary complex and induce physical proximity, thereby triggering ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. AR plays a key role in all stages of prostate cancer. It is activated by the binding of androgenic hormones and transcriptionally regulates multiple genes including the ones that regulate cell cycle. Using HiBiT CRISPR cell line, biochemical methods, and RNA sequencing, we report the potential role of VNPP433-3β, the next generation galeterone analog as molecular glue that brings together AR, the key driver of prostate cancer and MDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase leading to ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of f-AR and AR-V7 in prostate cancer cells.
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10
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Practical Understanding of Cancer Model Identifiability in Clinical Applications. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020410. [PMID: 36836767 PMCID: PMC9961656 DOI: 10.3390/life13020410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mathematical models are a core component in the foundation of cancer theory and have been developed as clinical tools in precision medicine. Modeling studies for clinical applications often assume an individual's characteristics can be represented as parameters in a model and are used to explain, predict, and optimize treatment outcomes. However, this approach relies on the identifiability of the underlying mathematical models. In this study, we build on the framework of an observing-system simulation experiment to study the identifiability of several models of cancer growth, focusing on the prognostic parameters of each model. Our results demonstrate that the frequency of data collection, the types of data, such as cancer proxy, and the accuracy of measurements all play crucial roles in determining the identifiability of the model. We also found that highly accurate data can allow for reasonably accurate estimates of some parameters, which may be the key to achieving model identifiability in practice. As more complex models required more data for identification, our results support the idea of using models with a clear mechanism that tracks disease progression in clinical settings. For such a model, the subset of model parameters associated with disease progression naturally minimizes the required data for model identifiability.
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Roberts MJ, Maurer T, Perera M, Eiber M, Hope TA, Ost P, Siva S, Hofman MS, Murphy DG, Emmett L, Fendler WP. Using PSMA imaging for prognostication in localized and advanced prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 2023; 20:23-47. [PMID: 36473945 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-022-00670-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-directed applications in modern prostate cancer management has evolved rapidly over the past few years, helping to establish new treatment pathways and provide further insights into prostate cancer biology. However, the prognostic implications of PSMA-PET have not been studied systematically, owing to rapid clinical implementation without long follow-up periods to determine intermediate-term and long-term oncological outcomes. Currently available data suggest that traditional prognostic factors and survival outcomes are associated with high PSMA expression (both according to immunohistochemistry and PET uptake) in men with localized and biochemically recurrent disease. Treatment with curative intent (primary and/or salvage) often fails when PSMA-positive metastases are present; however, the sensitivity of PSMA-PET in detecting all metastases is poor. Low PSMA-PET uptake in recurrent disease is a favourable prognostic factor; however, it can be associated with poor prognosis in conjunction with high 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clinical trials embedding PSMA-PET for guiding management with reliable oncological outcomes are needed to support ongoing clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Roberts
- Department of Urology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Department of Urology, Redcliffe Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Tobias Maurer
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Center, Department of Urology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlon Perera
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthias Eiber
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas A Hope
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Piet Ost
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Iridium Network, GZA Ziekenhuizen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Shankar Siva
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Radiation Oncology, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael S Hofman
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Molecular Imaging and Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Declan G Murphy
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise Emmett
- Department of Theranostics and Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Wolfgang P Fendler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- PET Committee of the German Society of Nuclear Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
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12
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Sengupta M, Pluciennik A, Merry DE. The role of ubiquitination in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1020143. [PMID: 36277484 PMCID: PMC9583669 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative and neuromuscular genetic disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine-encoding CAG tract in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The AR is an important transcriptional regulator of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily; its levels are regulated in many ways including by ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification (PTM) which plays a key role in both AR transcriptional activity and its degradation. Moreover, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a fundamental component of cellular functioning and has been implicated in diseases of protein misfolding and aggregation, including polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion diseases such as Huntington's disease and SBMA. In this review, we discuss the details of the UPS system, its functions and regulation, and the role of AR ubiquitination and UPS components in SBMA. We also discuss aspects of the UPS that may be manipulated for therapeutic effect in SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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13
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Prostate cancer as a dedifferentiated organ: androgen receptor, cancer stem cells, and cancer stemness. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:291-303. [PMID: 35866337 PMCID: PMC9484140 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer progression is characterized and driven by gradual loss of a differentiated phenotype and gain of stem cell-like features. In prostate cancer (PCa), androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for cancer growth, progression, and emergence of therapy resistance. Targeting the AR signaling axis has been, over the decades, the mainstay of PCa therapy. However, AR signaling at the transcription level is reduced in high-grade cancer relative to low-grade PCa and loss of AR expression promotes a stem cell-like phenotype, suggesting that emergence of resistance to AR-targeted therapy may be associated with loss of AR signaling and gain of stemness. In the present mini-review, we first discuss PCa from the perspective of an abnormal organ with increasingly deregulated differentiation, and discuss the role of AR signaling during PCa progression. We then focus on the relationship between prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) and AR signaling. We further elaborate on the current methods of using transcriptome-based stemness-enriched signature to evaluate the degree of oncogenic dedifferentiation (cancer stemness) in pan-cancer datasets, and present the clinical significance of scoring transcriptome-based stemness across the spectrum of PCa development. Our discussions highlight the importance to evaluate the dynamic changes in both stem cell-like features (stemness score) and AR signaling activity across the PCa spectrum.
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14
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Zhao Y, Li J, Chen J, Ye M, Jin X. Functional roles of E3 ubiquitin ligases in prostate cancer. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1125-1144. [PMID: 35816219 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02229-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignant epithelial tumor of the prostate gland with a high male cancer incidence. Numerous studies indicate that abnormal function of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is associated with the progression and metastasis of PCa. E3 ubiquitin ligases, key components of UPS, determine the specificity of substrates, and substantial advances of E3 ubiquitin ligases have been reached recently. Herein, we introduce the structures and functions of E3 ubiquitin ligases and summarize the mechanisms of E3 ubiquitin ligases-related PCa signaling pathways. In addition, some progresses in the development of inhibitors targeting E3 ubiquitin ligases are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.,Department of Chemoradiotherapy, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Jinyun Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Chemoradiotherapy, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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15
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Lee S, Mendoza TR, Burner DN, Muldong MT, Wu CCN, Arreola-Villanueva C, Zuniga A, Greenburg O, Zhu WY, Murtadha J, Koutouan E, Pineda N, Pham H, Kang SG, Kim HT, Pineda G, Lennon KM, Cacalano NA, Jamieson CHM, Kane CJ, Kulidjian AA, Gaasterland T, Jamieson CAM. Novel Dormancy Mechanism of Castration Resistance in Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer Organoids. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063203. [PMID: 35328625 PMCID: PMC8952299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients with bone metastases are treated with androgen pathway directed therapy (APDT). However, this treatment invariably fails and the cancer becomes castration resistant. To elucidate resistance mechanisms and to provide a more predictive pre-clinical research platform reflecting tumor heterogeneity, we established organoids from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of bone metastatic prostate cancer, PCSD1. APDT-resistant PDX-derived organoids (PDOs) emerged when cultured without androgen or with the anti-androgen, enzalutamide. Transcriptomics revealed up-regulation of neurogenic and steroidogenic genes and down-regulation of DNA repair, cell cycle, circadian pathways and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 host viral entry factors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Time course analysis of the cell cycle in live cells revealed that enzalutamide induced a gradual transition into a reversible dormant state as shown here for the first time at the single cell level in the context of multi-cellular, 3D living organoids using the Fucci2BL fluorescent live cell cycle tracker system. We show here a new mechanism of castration resistance in which enzalutamide induced dormancy and novel basal-luminal-like cells in bone metastatic prostate cancer organoids. These PDX organoids can be used to develop therapies targeting dormant APDT-resistant cells and host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry.
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MESH Headings
- Androgens/pharmacology
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- Bone Neoplasms/genetics
- Bone Neoplasms/metabolism
- Bone Neoplasms/secondary
- COVID-19/genetics
- COVID-19/metabolism
- COVID-19/virology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Gene Expression Profiling/methods
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Nitriles/pharmacology
- Organoids/metabolism
- Phenylthiohydantoin/pharmacology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology
- Receptors, Virus/genetics
- Receptors, Virus/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/physiology
- Serine Endopeptidases/genetics
- Serine Endopeptidases/metabolism
- Transplantation, Heterologous
- Virus Internalization
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghee Lee
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
- Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Theresa R. Mendoza
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Danielle N. Burner
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Michelle T. Muldong
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Christina C. N. Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.P.); (K.M.L.)
| | - Catalina Arreola-Villanueva
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Abril Zuniga
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Olga Greenburg
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - William Y. Zhu
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Jamillah Murtadha
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Evodie Koutouan
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Naomi Pineda
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Hao Pham
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | - Sung-Gu Kang
- Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Hyun Tae Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea;
| | - Gabriel Pineda
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.P.); (K.M.L.)
| | - Kathleen M. Lennon
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (G.P.); (K.M.L.)
| | - Nicholas A. Cacalano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Catriona H. M. Jamieson
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
- Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Christopher J. Kane
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
| | | | - Terry Gaasterland
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christina A. M. Jamieson
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.L.); (T.R.M.); (D.N.B.); (M.T.M.); (C.A.-V.); (A.Z.); (O.G.); (W.Y.Z.); (J.M.); (E.K.); (N.P.); (H.P.); (C.J.K.)
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.C.N.W.); (C.H.M.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-858-534-2921
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16
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Hu WY, Lu R, Hu DP, Imir OB, Zuo Q, Moline D, Afradiasbagharani P, Liu L, Lowe S, Birch L, Griend DJV, Madak-Erdogan Z, Prins GS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances target and alter human prostate stem-progenitor cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 197:114902. [PMID: 34968493 PMCID: PMC8890783 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of widely used synthetic chemicals that are environmentally and biologically persistent and present in most individuals. Chronic PFAS exposure have been linked to increased prostate cancer risk in occupational settings, however, underlying mechanisms have not been interrogated. Herein we examined exposure of normal human prostate stem-progenitor cells (SPCs) to 10 nM PFOA or PFOS using serial passage of prostasphere cultures. Exposure to either PFAS for 3-4 weeks increased spheroid numbers and size indicative of elevated stem cell self-renewal and progenitor cell proliferation. Transcriptome analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) showed 1) SPC expression of PPARs and RXRs able to mediate PFAS effects, 2) the emergence of a new cell cluster of aberrantly differentiated luminal progenitor cells upon PFOS/PFOA exposure, and 3) enrichment of cancer-associated signaling pathways. Metabolomic analysis of PFAS-exposed prostaspheres revealed increased glycolytic pathways including the Warburg effect as well as strong enrichment of serine and glycine metabolism which may promote a pre-malignant SPC fate. Finally, growth of in vivo xenografts of tumorigenic RWPE-2 human prostate cells, shown to contain cancer stem-like cells, was markedly enhanced by daily PFOS feeding to nude mice hosts. Together, these findings are the first to identify human prostate SPCs as direct PFAS targets with resultant reprogrammed transcriptomes and metabolomes that augment a preneoplastic state and may contribute to an elevated prostate cancer risk with chronic exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yang Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Ranli Lu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Dan Ping Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Ozan Berk Imir
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States
| | - Qianying Zuo
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States
| | - Dan Moline
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | | | - Lifeng Liu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Scott Lowe
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, United States
| | - Lynn Birch
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Donald J Vander Griend
- Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
| | - Zeynep Madak-Erdogan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States; Department of Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States
| | - Gail S Prins
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States; University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.
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17
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Lee J, Troike K, Fodor R, Lathia JD. Unexplored Functions of Sex Hormones in Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells. Endocrinology 2022; 163:bqac002. [PMID: 35023543 PMCID: PMC8807164 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological sex impacts a wide array of molecular and cellular functions that impact organismal development and can influence disease trajectory in a variety of pathophysiological states. In nonreproductive cancers, epidemiological sex differences have been observed in a series of tumors, and recent work has identified previously unappreciated sex differences in molecular genetics and immune response. However, the extent of these sex differences in terms of drivers of tumor growth and therapeutic response is less clear. In glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary malignant brain tumor, there is a male bias in incidence and outcome, and key genetic and epigenetic differences, as well as differences in immune response driven by immune-suppressive myeloid populations, have recently been revealed. GBM is a prototypic tumor in which cellular heterogeneity is driven by populations of therapeutically resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) that underlie tumor growth and recurrence. There is emerging evidence that GBM CSCs may show a sex difference, with male tumor cells showing enhanced self-renewal, but how sex differences impact CSC function is not clear. In this mini-review, we focus on how sex hormones may impact CSCs in GBM and implications for other cancers with a pronounced CSC population. We also explore opportunities to leverage new models to better understand the contribution of sex hormones vs sex chromosomes to CSC function. With the rising interest in sex differences in cancer, there is an immediate need to understand the extent to which sex differences impact tumor growth, including effects on CSC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyeun Lee
- Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
| | - Katie Troike
- Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
| | - R’ay Fodor
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
- Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
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18
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Ohya S, Kajikuri J, Endo K, Kito H, Matsui M. K Ca1.1 K + Channel Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Antiandrogens and Doxorubicin in a Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Spheroid Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13553. [PMID: 34948357 PMCID: PMC8706449 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several types of K+ channels play crucial roles in tumorigenicity, stemness, invasiveness, and drug resistance in cancer. Spheroid formation of human prostate cancer (PC) LNCaP cells with ultra-low attachment surface cultureware induced the up-regulation of cancer stem cell markers, such as NANOG, and decreased the protein degradation of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa1.1 by down-regulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase, FBXW7, compared with LNCaP monolayers. Accordingly, KCa1.1 activator-induced hyperpolarizing responses were larger in isolated cells from LNCaP spheroids. The pharmacological inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame the resistance of LNCaP spheroids to antiandrogens and doxorubicin (DOX). The protein expression of androgen receptors (AR) was significantly decreased by LNCaP spheroid formation and reversed by KCa1.1 inhibition. The pharmacological and genetic inhibition of MDM2, which may be related to AR protein degradation in PC stem cells, revealed that MDM2 was responsible for the acquisition of antiandrogen resistance in LNCaP spheroids, which was overcome by KCa1.1 inhibition. Furthermore, a member of the multidrug resistance-associated protein subfamily of ABC transporters, MRP5 was responsible for the acquisition of DOX resistance in LNCaP spheroids, which was also overcome by KCa1.1 inhibition. Collectively, the present results suggest the potential of KCa1.1 in LNCaP spheroids, which mimic PC stem cells, as a therapeutic target for overcoming antiandrogen- and DOX-resistance in PC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Ohya
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (J.K.); (K.E.); (H.K.); (M.M.)
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19
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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: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [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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20
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Lim JR, Mouawad J, Gorton OK, Bubb WA, Kwan AH. Cancer stem cell characteristics and their potential as therapeutic targets. Med Oncol 2021; 38:76. [PMID: 34050825 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-021-01524-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a tumour subpopulation whose capacity for self-renewal, differentiation and proliferation generates unfavourable patient outcomes, including therapeutic resistance and metastasis. Much research has focused on the generation, biomarkers and therapeutic resistance of CSCs, as well as the development of CSC-targeted therapies. Reviews to date have either addressed general CSC characteristics or focused on CSCs from a well-studied cancer. Increasingly, specific treatment plans based on identification of molecular features and biomarkers of a patient's cancer, rather than classification according to tissue origin or bulk tumour properties, are leading to better patient outcomes. Here, we compare CSC characteristics, specifically their biomarkers and molecular features, and identify those that are common to a number of cancers. Identification of CSC markers that suggest therapeutic strategies has led to several successful in vitro and animal tests, recommending clinical trials of treatments with potentially enhanced therapeutic benefits, especially for recurring cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ann H Kwan
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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21
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Zhou HM, Zhang JG, Zhang X, Li Q. Targeting cancer stem cells for reversing therapy resistance: mechanism, signaling, and prospective agents. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:62. [PMID: 33589595 PMCID: PMC7884707 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00430-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) show a self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential that contribute to tumor progression and therapy resistance. However, the underlying processes are still unclear. Elucidation of the key hallmarks and resistance mechanisms of CSCs may help improve patient outcomes and reduce relapse by altering therapeutic regimens. Here, we reviewed the identification of CSCs, the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of therapy resistance in CSCs, the signaling pathways of CSCs that mediate treatment failure, and potential CSC-targeting agents in various tumors from the clinical perspective. Targeting the mechanisms and pathways described here might contribute to further drug discovery and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Ming Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of medicine, No.100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Gang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of medicine, No.100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of medicine, No.100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of medicine, No.100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Lv S, Song Q, Chen G, Cheng E, Chen W, Cole R, Wu Z, Pascal LE, Wang K, Wipf P, Nelson JB, Wei Q, Huang W, Wang Z. Regulation and targeting of androgen receptor nuclear localization in castration-resistant prostate cancer. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:141335. [PMID: 33332287 DOI: 10.1172/jci141335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear localization of the androgen receptor (AR) is necessary for its activation as a transcription factor. Defining the mechanisms regulating AR nuclear localization in androgen-sensitive cells and how these mechanisms are dysregulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells is fundamentally important and clinically relevant. According to the classical model of AR intracellular trafficking, androgens induce AR nuclear import and androgen withdrawal causes AR nuclear export. The present study has led to an updated model that AR could be imported in the absence of androgens, ubiquitinated, and degraded in the nucleus. Androgen withdrawal caused nuclear AR degradation, but not export. In comparison with their parental androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells, castration-resistant C4-2 cells exhibited reduced nuclear AR polyubiquitination and increased nuclear AR level. We previously identified 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole (CPPI) in a high-throughput screen for its inhibition of androgen-independent AR nuclear localization in CRPC cells. The current study shows that CPPI is a competitive AR antagonist capable of enhancing AR interaction with its E3 ligase MDM2 and degradation of AR in the nuclei of CRPC cells. Also, CPPI blocked androgen-independent AR nuclear import. Overall, these findings suggest the feasibility of targeting androgen-independent AR nuclear import and stabilization, two necessary steps leading to AR nuclear localization and activation in CRPC cells, with small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shidong Lv
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, and.,National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Qiong Song
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Ageing Related Disease of Chinese Ministry of Education, Center for Translational Medicine and School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Urology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Erdong Cheng
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ryan Cole
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zeyu Wu
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura E Pascal
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Peter Wipf
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joel B Nelson
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, and
| | - Wenhua Huang
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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23
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Samaržija I. Post-Translational Modifications That Drive Prostate Cancer Progression. Biomolecules 2021; 11:247. [PMID: 33572160 PMCID: PMC7915076 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While a protein primary structure is determined by genetic code, its specific functional form is mostly achieved in a dynamic interplay that includes actions of many enzymes involved in post-translational modifications. This versatile repertoire is widely used by cells to direct their response to external stimuli, regulate transcription and protein localization and to keep proteostasis. Herein, post-translational modifications with evident potency to drive prostate cancer are explored. A comprehensive list of proteome-wide and single protein post-translational modifications and their involvement in phenotypic outcomes is presented. Specifically, the data on phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, and lipidation in prostate cancer and the enzymes involved are collected. This type of knowledge is especially valuable in cases when cancer cells do not differ in the expression or mutational status of a protein, but its differential activity is regulated on the level of post-translational modifications. Since their driving roles in prostate cancer, post-translational modifications are widely studied in attempts to advance prostate cancer treatment. Current strategies that exploit the potential of post-translational modifications in prostate cancer therapy are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Samaržija
- Laboratory for Epigenomics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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24
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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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25
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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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26
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Zhou X, Han S, Wilder-Romans K, Sun GY, Zhu H, Liu X, Tan M, Wang G, Feng FY, Sun Y. Neddylation inactivation represses androgen receptor transcription and inhibits growth, survival and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Neoplasia 2020; 22:192-202. [PMID: 32145689 PMCID: PMC7058827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) and its constitutively active variants (AR-Vs) have been extensively implicated in the progression and recurrence of prostate cancer, making them attractive targets in the treatment of this disease. Whether and how neddylation modification regulates AR, and the therapeutic implications of this potential regulation, are relatively unexplored areas of investigation. Here we report that neddylation inactivation by the pharmacological inhibitor MLN4924 or Lenti-shRNA-based genetic knockdown of neddylation activating enzyme (NAE) selectively suppressed growth and survival of prostate cancer cells with minor, if any, effect on normal prostate epithelial cells. MLN4924 also significantly suppressed the invasive capacity of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, compared to monotherapy, the combination of MLN4924 with AR antagonist or castration significantly enhanced growth suppression of prostate cancer cells in vitro, and tumor growth in an in vivo xenograft model. Mechanistically, MLN4924 repressed the transcription of AR/AR-V7 and its downstream targets, and blocked MMP2 and MMP9 expression. Taken together, our study reveals that the neddylation pathway positively regulates AR/AR-V7 transcription, and that the neddylation inhibitor MLN4924 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of aggressive prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China; Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sumin Han
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kari Wilder-Romans
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Grace Y Sun
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hong Zhu
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China; Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mingjia Tan
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gongxian Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Felix Y Feng
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Departments of Radiation Oncology, Urology, and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Yi Sun
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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27
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Ballar Kirmizibayrak P, Erbaykent-Tepedelen B, Gozen O, Erzurumlu Y. Divergent Modulation of Proteostasis in Prostate Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1233:117-151. [PMID: 32274755 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38266-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Proteostasis regulates key cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, transcription, and apoptosis. The mechanisms by which proteostasis is regulated are crucial and the deterioration of cellular proteostasis has been significantly associated with tumorigenesis since it specifically targets key oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Androgens mediate one of the most central signaling pathways in all stages of PCa via the androgen receptor (AR). In addition to their regulation by hormones, PCa cells are also known to be highly secretory and are particularly prone to ER stress as proper ER function is essential. Alterations in various complex signaling pathways and cellular processes including cell cycle control, transcription, DNA repair, apoptosis, cell adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and angiogenesis are critical factors influencing PCa development through key molecular changes mainly by posttranslational modifications in PCa-related proteins, including AR, NKX3.1, PTEN, p53, cyclin D1, and p27. Several ubiquitin ligases like MDM2, Siah2, RNF6, CHIP, and substrate-binding adaptor SPOP; deubiquitinases such as USP7, USP10, USP26, and USP12 are just some of the modifiers involved in the regulation of these key proteins via ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Some ubiquitin-like modifiers, especially SUMOs, have been also closely associated with PCa. On the other hand, the proteotoxicity resulting from misfolded proteins and failure of ER adaptive capacity induce unfolded protein response (UPR) that is an indispensable signaling mechanism for PCa development. Lastly, ER-associated degradation (ERAD) also plays a crucial role in prostate tumorigenesis. In this section, the relationship between prostate cancer and proteostasis will be discussed in terms of UPS, UPR, SUMOylation, ERAD, and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oguz Gozen
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yalcin Erzurumlu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
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28
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Ponnusamy S, He Y, Hwang DJ, Thiyagarajan T, Houtman R, Bocharova V, Sumpter BG, Fernandez E, Johnson D, Du Z, Pfeffer LM, Getzenberg RH, McEwan IJ, Miller DD, Narayanan R. Orally Bioavailable Androgen Receptor Degrader, Potential Next-Generation Therapeutic for Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:6764-6780. [PMID: 31481513 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-1458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Androgen receptor (AR)-targeting prostate cancer drugs, which are predominantly competitive ligand-binding domain (LBD)-binding antagonists, are inactivated by common resistance mechanisms. It is important to develop next-generation mechanistically distinct drugs to treat castration- and drug-resistant prostate cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Second-generation AR pan antagonist UT-34 was selected from a library of compounds and tested in competitive AR binding and transactivation assays. UT-34 was tested using biophysical methods for binding to the AR activation function-1 (AF-1) domain. Western blot, gene expression, and proliferation assays were performed in various AR-positive enzalutamide-sensitive and -resistant prostate cancer cell lines. Pharmacokinetic and xenograft studies were performed in immunocompromised rats and mice. RESULTS UT-34 inhibits the wild-type and LBD-mutant ARs comparably and inhibits the in vitro proliferation and in vivo growth of enzalutamide-sensitive and -resistant prostate cancer xenografts. In preclinical models, UT-34 induced the regression of enzalutamide-resistant tumors at doses when the AR is degraded; but, at lower doses, when the AR is just antagonized, it inhibits, without shrinking, the tumors. This indicates that degradation might be a prerequisite for tumor regression. Mechanistically, UT-34 promotes a conformation that is distinct from the LBD-binding competitive antagonist enzalutamide and degrades the AR through the ubiquitin proteasome mechanism. UT-34 has a broad safety margin and exhibits no cross-reactivity with G-protein-coupled receptor kinase and nuclear receptor family members. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, UT-34 exhibits the properties necessary for a next-generation prostate cancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suriyan Ponnusamy
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yali He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Dong-Jin Hwang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | - Rene Houtman
- PamGene International, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Elias Fernandez
- Biochemistry and Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Daniel Johnson
- Molecular Bioinformatics Core, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ziyun Du
- Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Lawrence M Pfeffer
- Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | - Iain J McEwan
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Duane D Miller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ramesh Narayanan
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
- West Cancer Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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29
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Majumdar S, Rinaldi JC, Malhotra NR, Xie L, Hu DP, Gauntner TD, Grewal HS, Hu WY, Kim SH, Katzenellenbogen JA, Kasper S, Prins GS. Differential Actions of Estrogen Receptor α and β via Nongenomic Signaling in Human Prostate Stem and Progenitor Cells. Endocrinology 2019; 160:2692-2708. [PMID: 31433456 PMCID: PMC6804489 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human prostate stem and progenitor cells express estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ and exhibit proliferative responses to estrogens. In this study, membrane-initiated estrogen signaling was interrogated in human prostate stem/progenitor cells enriched from primary epithelial cultures and stem-like cell lines from benign and cancerous prostates. Subcellular fractionation and proximity ligation assays localized ERα and ERβ to the cell membrane with caveolin-1 interactions. Exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2) for 15 to 60 minutes led to sequential phosphorylation of signaling molecules in MAPK and AKT pathways, IGF1 receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and ERα, thus documenting an intact membrane signalosome that activates diverse downstream cascades. Treatment with an E2-dendrimer conjugate or ICI 182,870 validated E2-mediated actions through membrane ERs. Overexpression and knockdown of ERα or ERβ in stem/progenitor cells identified pathway selectivity; ERα preferentially activated AKT, whereas ERβ selectively activated MAPK cascades. Furthermore, prostate cancer stem-like cells expressed only ERβ, and brief E2 exposure activated MAPK but not AKT cascades. A gene subset selectively regulated by nongenomic E2 signaling was identified in normal prostate progenitor cells that includes BGN, FOSB, FOXQ1, and MAF. Membrane-initiated E2 signaling rapidly modified histone methyltransferases, with MLL1 cleavage observed downstream of phosphorylated AKT and EZH2 phosphorylation downstream of MAPK signaling, which may jointly modify histones to permit rapid gene transcription. Taken together, the present findings document ERα and ERβ membrane-initiated signaling in normal and cancerous human prostate stem/progenitor cells with differential engagement of downstream effectors. These signaling pathways influence normal prostate stem/progenitor cell homeostasis and provide novel therapeutic sites to target the elusive prostate cancer stem cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyama Majumdar
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jaqueline C Rinaldi
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Neha R Malhotra
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lishi Xie
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Dan-Ping Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Timothy D Gauntner
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Harinder S Grewal
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wen-Yang Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sung Hoon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | | | - Susan Kasper
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Gail S Prins
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
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Madueke I, Hu WY, Hu D, Swanson SM, Griend DV, Abern M, Prins GS. The role of WNT10B in normal prostate gland development and prostate cancer. Prostate 2019; 79:1692-1704. [PMID: 31433503 PMCID: PMC9639854 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WNT signaling is implicated in embryonic development, and in adult tissue homeostasis, while its deregulation is evident in disease. This study investigates the unique roles of canonical WNT10B in both normal prostate development and prostate cancer (PCa) progression. METHODS Organ culture and rat ventral prostates (VPs) were used to study Wnt10b ontogeny and growth effect of WNT10B protein. PB-SV40 LTag rat VPs were utilized for Wnt expression polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and immunohistochemistry. Human localized PCa tissue microarrays (TMAs) were investigated for differential WNT10B expression. Human RNA-seq data sets were queried for differential expression of WNT10B in metastatic and localized PCa. Knockdown of WNT10B in PC3 cells was utilized to study its effects on proliferation, stemness, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and xenograft propagation. RESULTS Wnt10b expression was highest at birth and rapidly declined in the postnatal rat VP. Exogenous WNT10B addition to culture developing VPs decreased growth suggesting an antiproliferative role. VPs from PB-SV40 LTag rats with localized PCa showed a 25-fold reduction in Wnt10b messenger RNA (mRNA) expession, confirmed at the protein level. Human PCa TMAs revealed elevated WNT10B protein in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia compared with normal prostates but reduced levels in localized PCa specimens. In contrast, RNA-seq data set of annotated human PCa metastasis found a significant increase in WNT10B mRNA expression compared with localized tumors suggesting stage-specific functions of WNT10B. Similarly, WNT10B mRNA levels were increased in metastatic cell lines PC3, PC3M, as well as in HuSLC, a PCa stem-like cell line, as compared with disease-free primary prostate epithelial cells. WNT10B knockdown in PC3 cells reduced expression of EMT genes, MMP9 and stemness genes NANOG and SOX2 and markedly reduced the stem cell-like side population. Furthermore, loss of WNT10B abrogated the ability of PC3 cells to propagate tumors via serial transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results suggest a dual role for WNT10B in normal development and in PCa progression with opposing functions depending on disease stage. We propose that decreased WNT10B levels in localized cancer allow for a hyperproliferative state, whereas increased levels in advanced disease confer a stemness and malignant propensity which is mitigated by knocking down WNT10B levels. This raises the potential for WNT10B as a novel target for therapeutic intervention in metastatic PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikenna Madueke
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wen-Yang Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Danping Hu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Steven M. Swanson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Donald Vander Griend
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michael Abern
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Gail S. Prins
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
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