1
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Patke R, Harris AE, Woodcock CL, Thompson R, Santos R, Kumari A, Allegrucci C, Archer N, Gudas LJ, Robinson BD, Persson JL, Fray R, Jeyapalan J, Rutland CS, Rakha E, Madhusudan S, Emes RD, Muyangwa-Semenova M, Alsaleem M, de Brot S, Green W, Ratan H, Mongan NP, Lothion-Roy J. Epitranscriptomic mechanisms of androgen signalling and prostate cancer. Neoplasia 2024; 56:101032. [PMID: 39033689 PMCID: PMC11295630 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2024.101032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men. While radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy are often successful in treating localised disease, post-treatment recurrence is common. As the androgen receptor (AR) and androgen hormones play an essential role in prostate carcinogenesis and progression, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is often used to deprive PCa cells of the pro-proliferative effect of androgens. ADTs act by either blocking androgen biosynthesis (e.g. abiraterone) or blocking AR function (e.g. bicalutamide, enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide). ADT is often effective in initially suppressing PCa growth and progression, yet emergence of castrate-resistant PCa and progression to neuroendocrine-like PCa following ADT are major clinical challenges. For this reason, there is an urgent need to identify novel approaches to modulate androgen signalling to impede PCa progression whilst also preventing or delaying therapy resistance. The mechanistic convergence of androgen and epitranscriptomic signalling offers a potential novel approach to treat PCa. The epitranscriptome involves covalent modifications of mRNA, notably, in the context of this review, the N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. m6A is involved in the regulation of mRNA splicing, stability, and translation, and has recently been shown to play a role in PCa and androgen signalling. The m6A modification is dynamically regulated by the METTL3-containing methyltransferase complex, and the FTO and ALKBH5 RNA demethylases. Given the need for novel approaches to treat PCa, there is significant interest in new therapies that target m6A that modulate AR expression and androgen signalling. This review critically summarises the potential benefit of such epitranscriptomic therapies for PCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodhan Patke
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Anna E Harris
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Corinne L Woodcock
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Rachel Thompson
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Rute Santos
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Amber Kumari
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Cinzia Allegrucci
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Nathan Archer
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian D Robinson
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny L Persson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
| | - Rupert Fray
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Jennie Jeyapalan
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Catrin S Rutland
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Emad Rakha
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK; Nottingham University NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK; Nottingham University NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Richard D Emes
- Research and Innovation, Nottingham Trent University, UK
| | | | - Mansour Alsaleem
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; Unit of Scientific Research, Applied College, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simone de Brot
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - William Green
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hari Ratan
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Nigel P Mongan
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK; Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jennifer Lothion-Roy
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK.
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2
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Borah NA, Mittal R, Sucharita S, Rath S, Kaliki S, Patnaik S, Tripathy D, Reddy MM. Aurora Kinase A Is Overexpressed in Human Retinoblastoma and Correlates with Histopathologic High-Risk Factors: Implications for Targeted Therapy. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:1780-1798. [PMID: 38879085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular malignancy initiated by loss of RB1 function and/or dysregulation of MYCN oncogene. RB is primarily treated with chemotherapy; however, systemic toxicity and long-term adverse effects remain a significant challenge necessitating the identification of specific molecular targets. Aurora kinase A (AURKA), a critical cell cycle regulator, contributes to cancer pathogenesis, especially in RB1-deficient and MYCN-dysregulated tumors. The current immunohistochemistry study in patient specimens (n = 67) indicated that AURKA is overexpressed in RB, and this elevated expression correlates with one or more histopathologic high-risk factors, such as tumor involvement of the optic nerve, choroid, sclera, and/or anterior segment. More specifically, AURKA is ubiquitously expressed in most advanced-stage RB tumors that show a suboptimal response to chemotherapy. shRNA-mediated depletion/pharmacologic inhibition studies in cell lines, patient-derived cells, in vivo xenografts, and enucleated patient specimens confirmed that RB cells are highly sensitive to a lack of functional AURKA. In addition, AURKA and N-myc proto-oncogene protein (MYCN) associate with each other to regulate their levels in RB cells. Overall, these results demonstrate a previously unknown up-regulation of AURKA in RB, facilitated by its crosstalk with MYCN. The elevated levels of this kinase may indicate unfavorable prognosis in tumors refractory to chemotherapy. This study provides a rationale and confirms that therapeutic targeting of elevated AURKA in RB could be a potential treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naheed Arfin Borah
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ruchi Mittal
- Kanupriya Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Soumya Sucharita
- Kanupriya Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Suryasnata Rath
- Ophthalmic Plastics, Orbit and Ocular Oncology Service, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Swathi Kaliki
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Srinivas Patnaik
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Devjyoti Tripathy
- Ophthalmic Plastics, Orbit and Ocular Oncology Service, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Mamatha M Reddy
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India.
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3
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Farinea G, Calabrese M, Carfì F, Saporita I, Poletto S, Delcuratolo MD, Turco F, Audisio M, Di Stefano FR, Tucci M, Buttigliero C. Impact of Neuroendocrine Differentiation (NED) on Enzalutamide and Abiraterone Efficacy in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC): A Retrospective Analysis. Cells 2024; 13:1396. [PMID: 39195285 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) represents a possible androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI) resistance mechanism in metastatic castration resistance prostate cancer (mCRPC). As mCRPC with NED has been excluded from clinical trials evaluating ARPI efficacy, this study investigates the prognostic impact of NED in mCRPC patients treated with ARPIs. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 327 mCRPC patient data treated with Enzalutamide or Abiraterone in the first and second or successive lines of treatment. NED was assessed using prostate biopsy samples through immunohistochemical staining. Results: NED was confirmed in 32/327 (9.8%) mCRPC patients. In the overall population, mCRPC with NED showed worse PFS (4.38 vs. 11.48 months HR 2.505 [1.71-3.68] p < 0.05), disease control rate (DCR), and PSA response. In the first line setting, mCRPC with NED demonstrated worse PFS (8.5 vs. 14.9 months HR 2.13 [1.18-3.88], p < 0.05). Similarly, in the second or successive lines, mCRPC with NED showed worse PFS (4.0 vs. 7.5 months HR 2.43 [1.45-4.05] p < 0.05), DCR, PSA response and OS (12.53 vs. 18.03 months HR 1.86 [1.12-3.10] p < 0.05). The adverse impact of NED on PFS was consistence across all subgroups; we also noted a trend of worse PFS in patients with high vs. low NED. Conclusions: In our study, mCRPC with NED treated with Enzalutamide or Abiraterone showed worse clinical outcomes. NED assessment should be considered to optimize treatment decisions in the mCRPC setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Farinea
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Mariangela Calabrese
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Federica Carfì
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Isabella Saporita
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Stefano Poletto
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Turco
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Marco Audisio
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Tucci
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cardinal Massaia Hospital, 14100 Asti, Italy
| | - Consuelo Buttigliero
- Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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Hsieh CL, Do AD, Hsueh CY, Raboshakga MO, Thanh TN, Tai TT, Kung HJ, Sung SY. L1CAM mediates neuroendocrine phenotype acquisition in prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2024. [PMID: 39154281 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A specific type of prostate cancer (PC) that exhibits neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation is known as NEPC. NEPC has little to no response to androgen deprivation therapy and is associated with the development of metastatic castration-resistant PC (CRPC), which has an extremely poor prognosis. Our understanding of genetic drivers and activated pathways in NEPC is limited, which hinders precision medicine approaches. L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) is known to play an oncogenic role in metastatic cancers, including CRPC. However, the impact of L1CAM on NEPC progression remains elusive. METHODS L1CAM expression level was investigated using public gene expression databases of PC cohorts and patient-derived xenograft models. L1CAM knockdown was performed in different PC cells to study in vitro cell functions. A subline of CRPC cell line CWR22Rv1 was established after long-term exposure to abiraterone to induce NE differentiation. The androgen receptor-negative cell line PC3 was cultured under the tumor sphere-forming condition to enrich cancer stemness features. Several oxidative stress inducers were tested on PC cells to observe L1CAM-mediated gene expression and cell death. RESULTS L1CAM expression was remarkably high in NEPC compared to CRPC or adenocarcinoma tumors. L1CAM was also correlated with NE marker expressions and associated with the adenocarcinoma-to-NEPC progression in gene expression databases and CRPC cells with NE differentiation. L1CAM also promoted cancer stemness and NE phenotypes in PC3 cells under cancer stemness enrichment. L1CAM was also identified as a reactive oxygen species-induced gene, by which L1CAM counteracted CRPC cell death triggered by ionizing radiation. CONCLUSIONS Our results unveiled a new role of L1CAM in the acquisition of the NE phenotype in PC, contributing to the NE differentiation-related therapeutic resistance of CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ling Hsieh
- The Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- General Clinical Research Center, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Anh Duy Do
- International Ph.D. Program for Translational Science, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Chia-Yen Hsueh
- The Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mafewu Olga Raboshakga
- International Ph.D. Program for Translational Science, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
| | - Tran Ngoc Thanh
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tran Tien Tai
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Cancer Centre, Sacramento, California, USA
- Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shian-Ying Sung
- The Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Translational Science, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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5
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Venkadakrishnan VB, Presser AG, Singh R, Booker MA, Traphagen NA, Weng K, Voss NCE, Mahadevan NR, Mizuno K, Puca L, Idahor O, Ku SY, Bakht MK, Borah AA, Herbert ZT, Tolstorukov MY, Barbie DA, Rickman DS, Brown M, Beltran H. Lineage-specific canonical and non-canonical activity of EZH2 in advanced prostate cancer subtypes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6779. [PMID: 39117665 PMCID: PMC11310309 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51156-5] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase and emerging therapeutic target that is overexpressed in most castration-resistant prostate cancers and implicated as a driver of disease progression and resistance to hormonal therapies. Here we define the lineage-specific action and differential activity of EZH2 in both prostate adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) subtypes of advanced prostate cancer to better understand the role of EZH2 in modulating differentiation, lineage plasticity, and to identify mediators of response and resistance to EZH2 inhibitor therapy. Mechanistically, EZH2 modulates bivalent genes that results in upregulation of NEPC-associated transcriptional drivers (e.g., ASCL1) and neuronal gene programs in NEPC, and leads to forward differentiation after targeting EZH2 in NEPC. Subtype-specific downstream effects of EZH2 inhibition on cell cycle genes support the potential rationale for co-targeting cyclin/CDK to overcome resistance to EZH2 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varadha Balaji Venkadakrishnan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adam G Presser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richa Singh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew A Booker
- Department of Informatics and Analytics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole A Traphagen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenny Weng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Nathaniel C E Voss
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Belmont Hill School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Navin R Mahadevan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kei Mizuno
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Loredana Puca
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Osasenaga Idahor
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sheng-Yu Ku
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin K Bakht
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ashir A Borah
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Arc Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Zachary T Herbert
- Molecular Biology Core Facilities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Y Tolstorukov
- Department of Informatics and Analytics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David S Rickman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myles Brown
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Himisha Beltran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Fei X, Xue JW, Wu JZ, Yang CY, Wang KJ, Ma Q. Promising therapy for neuroendocrine prostate cancer: current status and future directions. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2024; 16:17588359241269676. [PMID: 39131727 PMCID: PMC11311189 DOI: 10.1177/17588359241269676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a highly aggressive variant of castration-resistant prostate cancer. It is characterized by low or no expression of the androgen receptor (AR), activation of AR-independent signaling, and increased neuroendocrine phenotype. Most of NEPC is induced by treatment of androgen deprivation therapy and androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs). Currently, the treatment of NEPC follows the treatment strategy for small-cell lung cancer, lacking effective drugs and specific treatment options. This review summarizes potential novel targets and therapies for NEPC treatment, including epigenetic regulators (zeste homolog 2 inhibitors, lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibitors), aurora kinase A inhibitors, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, delta-like ligand 3 targeted therapies, a combination of immunotherapies, etc. Other promising targets and future directions are also discussed in this review. These novel targets and therapies may provide new opportunities for the treatment of NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fei
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia-Wei Xue
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Ninghai, Ningbo, China
| | - Ji-zhongrong Wu
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Urology, Shengzhou People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| | - Chong-Yi Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Ninghai, 142 Taoyuan Middle Road, Yuelong Street, Ninghai county, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315699, China
| | - Ke-Jie Wang
- Comprehensive Genitourinary Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, 52, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China
| | - Qi Ma
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, 52, Liuting Street, Haishu District,Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China
- Comprehensive Genitourinary Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, 52, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China
- Yi-Huan Genitourinary Cancer Group, 52, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo,Zhejiang 315010, China
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7
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Cheng S, Li L, Yeh Y, Shi Y, Franco O, Corey E, Yu X. Unveiling novel double-negative prostate cancer subtypes through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:171. [PMID: 39095562 PMCID: PMC11297170 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00667-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) have facilitated the discovery of previously unrecognized subtypes within prostate cancer (PCa), offering new insights into cancer heterogeneity and progression. In this study, we integrated scRNAseq data from multiple studies, comprising publicly available cohorts and data generated by our research team, and established the Human Prostate Single cell Atlas (HuPSA) and Mouse Prostate Single cell Atlas (MoPSA) datasets. Through comprehensive analysis, we identified two novel double-negative PCa populations: KRT7 cells characterized by elevated KRT7 expression and progenitor-like cells marked by SOX2 and FOXA2 expression, distinct from NEPCa, and displaying stem/progenitor features. Furthermore, HuPSA-based deconvolution re-classified human PCa specimens, validating the presence of these novel subtypes. We then developed a user-friendly web application, "HuPSA-MoPSA" ( https://pcatools.shinyapps.io/HuPSA-MoPSA/ ), for visualizing gene expression across all newly established datasets. Our study provides comprehensive tools for PCa research and uncovers novel cancer subtypes that can inform clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Yunshin Yeh
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Yingli Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Omar Franco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Xiuping Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
- Department of Urology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
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8
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Scardovi AL, Bartolucci D, Montemurro L, Bortolotti S, Angelucci S, Amadesi C, Nieddu G, Oosterholt S, Cerisoli L, Della Pasqua O, Hrelia P, Tonelli R. Preclinical Pharmacokinetics in Tumors and Normal Tissues of the Antigene PNA Oligonucleotide MYCN-Inhibitor BGA002. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:173-187. [PMID: 38957973 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2024.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Although MYCN has been considered an undruggable target, MYCN alterations confer poor prognosis in many pediatric and adult cancers. The novel MYCN-specific inhibitor BGA002 is an antigene peptide nucleic acid oligonucleotide covalently bound to a nuclear localization signal peptide. In the present study, we characterized the pharmacokinetics (PK) of BGA002 after single and repeated administration to mice using a novel specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. BGA002 concentrations in plasma showed linear PK, with dose proportional increase across the tested dose levels and similar exposure between male and female and between intravenous and subcutaneous route of administration. Repeated dosing resulted in no accumulation in plasma. Biodistribution up to 7 days after single subcutaneous administration of [14C]-radiolabeled BGA002 showed broad tissues and organ distribution (suggesting a potential capability to reach primary tumor and metastasis in several body sites), with high concentrations in kidney, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, adrenals, and bone marrow. Remarkably, we demonstrated that BGA002 concentrates in tumors after repeated systemic administrations in three mouse models with MYCN amplification (neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and small-cell lung cancer), leading to a significant reduction in tumor weight. Taking into account the available safety profile of BGA002, these data support further evaluation of BGA002 in patients with MYCN-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luca Montemurro
- AGEOP Ricerca OdV, IRCCS S. Orsola Hospital, Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Sean Oosterholt
- Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Group, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Oscar Della Pasqua
- Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Group, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrizia Hrelia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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9
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Verrillo CE, Quaglia F, Shields CD, Lin S, Kossenkov AV, Tang HY, Speicher D, Naranjo NM, Testa A, Kelly WK, Liu Q, Leiby B, Musante L, Sossey-Alaoui K, Dogra N, Chen TY, Altieri DC, Languino LR. Expression of the αVβ3 integrin affects prostate cancer sEV cargo and density and promotes sEV pro-tumorigenic activity in vivo through a GPI-anchored receptor, NgR2. J Extracell Vesicles 2024; 13:e12482. [PMID: 39105261 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12482] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
It is known that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are released from cancer cells and contribute to cancer progression via crosstalk with recipient cells. We have previously reported that sEVs expressing the αVβ3 integrin, a protein upregulated in aggressive neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPrCa), contribute to neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in recipient cells. Here, we examine the impact of αVβ3 expression on sEV protein content, density and function. sEVs used in this study were isolated by iodixanol density gradients and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunoblotting and single vesicle analysis. Our proteomic profile of sEVs containing αVβ3 shows downregulation of typical effectors involved in apoptosis and necrosis and an upregulation of tumour cell survival factors compared to control sEVs. We also show that the expression of αVβ3 in sEVs causes a distinct reposition of EV markers (Alix, CD81, CD9) to a low-density sEV subpopulation. This low-density reposition is independent of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein interactions with sEVs. This sEV subset contains αVβ3 and an αVβ3 downstream effector, NgR2, a novel marker for NEPrCa. We show that sEVs containing αVβ3 are loaded with higher amounts of NgR2 as compared to sEVs that do not express αVβ3. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that sEVs containing NgR2 do not affect the sEV marker profile, but when injected in vivo intratumorally, they promote tumour growth and induce NED. We show that sEVs expressing NgR2 increase the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a known promoter of cancer cell proliferation, in recipient cells. We also show that NgR2 mimics the effect of sEVs containing αVβ3 since it displays increased growth of NgR2 transfectants in vivo, as compared to control cells. Overall, our results describe the changes that occur in cargo, density and functions of cancer cell-derived sEVs containing the αVβ3 integrin and its effector, NgR2, without affecting the sEV tetraspanin profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia E Verrillo
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Fabio Quaglia
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher D Shields
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stephen Lin
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew V Kossenkov
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Center for Systems and Computational Biology, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hsin-Yao Tang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Speicher
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicole M Naranjo
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anna Testa
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William K Kelly
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Qin Liu
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Benjamin Leiby
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Luca Musante
- Extracellular Vesicle Core, PennVet, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Khalid Sossey-Alaoui
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine MetroHealth Medical Center Rammelkamp Center for Research, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Navneet Dogra
- Department of Pathology and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tzu-Yi Chen
- Department of Pathology and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dario C Altieri
- Immunology, Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lucia R Languino
- Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Quintanal-Villalonga A, Kawasaki K, Redin E, Uddin F, Rakhade S, Durani V, Sabet A, Shafer M, Karthaus WR, Zaidi S, Zhan YA, Manoj P, Sridhar H, Kinyua D, Zhong H, Mello BP, Ciampricotti M, Bhanot UK, Linkov I, Qiu J, Patel RA, Morrissey C, Mehta S, Barnes J, Haffner MC, Socci ND, Koche RP, de Stanchina E, Molina-Pinelo S, Salehi S, Yu HA, Chan JM, Rudin CM. CDC7 inhibition impairs neuroendocrine transformation in lung and prostate tumors through MYC degradation. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:189. [PMID: 39054323 PMCID: PMC11272780 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine (NE) transformation is a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy in lung and prostate adenocarcinomas leading to poor prognosis. Up to date, even if patients at high risk of transformation can be identified by the occurrence of Tumor Protein P53 (TP53) and Retinoblastoma Transcriptional Corepressor 1 (RB1) mutations in their tumors, no therapeutic strategies are available to prevent or delay histological transformation. Upregulation of the cell cycle kinase Cell Division Cycle 7 (CDC7) occurred in tumors during the initial steps of NE transformation, already after TP53/RB1 co-inactivation, leading to induced sensitivity to the CDC7 inhibitor simurosertib. CDC7 inhibition suppressed NE transdifferentiation and extended response to targeted therapy in in vivo models of NE transformation by inducing the proteasome-mediated degradation of the MYC Proto-Oncogen (MYC), implicated in stemness and histological transformation. Ectopic overexpression of a degradation-resistant MYC isoform reestablished the NE transformation phenotype observed on targeted therapy, even in the presence of simurosertib. CDC7 inhibition also markedly extended response to standard cytotoxics (cisplatin, irinotecan) in lung and prostate small cell carcinoma models. These results nominate CDC7 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to constrain lineage plasticity, as well as to effectively treat NE tumors de novo or after transformation. As simurosertib clinical efficacy trials are ongoing, this concept could be readily translated for patients at risk of transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Quintanal-Villalonga
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kenta Kawasaki
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Esther Redin
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fathema Uddin
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Swanand Rakhade
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vidushi Durani
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amin Sabet
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Moniquetta Shafer
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wouter R Karthaus
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samir Zaidi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yingqian A Zhan
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Parvathy Manoj
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harsha Sridhar
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dennis Kinyua
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hong Zhong
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barbara P Mello
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Metamia Ciampricotti
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Umesh K Bhanot
- Pathology Core Facility, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MSKCC, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Linkov
- Pathology Core Facility, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MSKCC, New York, NY, USA
| | - Juan Qiu
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Radhika A Patel
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sanjoy Mehta
- Gene Editing & Screening Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jesse Barnes
- Gene Editing & Screening Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael C Haffner
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas D Socci
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard P Koche
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sonia Molina-Pinelo
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Sohrab Salehi
- Computational Oncology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helena A Yu
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph M Chan
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Jing N, Tao Z, Du X, Wen Z, Gao WQ, Dong B, Fang YX. Targeting SOX4/PCK2 signaling suppresses neuroendocrine trans-differentiation of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Biol Direct 2024; 19:56. [PMID: 39014441 PMCID: PMC11251300 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00500-2] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a lethal subset of prostate cancer (PCa), is characterized by loss of AR signaling and resistance to AR-targeted therapy. While it is well reported that second-generation AR blockers induce neuroendocrine (NE) trans-differentiation of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) to promote the occurrence of NEPC, and pluripotent transcription factors might be potential regulators, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS We analyzed the data from public databsets to screen candidate genes and then focused on SOX4, a regulator of NE trans-differentiation. The expression changes of SOX4 and its relationship with tumor progression were validated in clinical tumor tissues. We evaluated malignant characteristics related to NEPC in prostate cancer cell lines with stable overexpression or knockdown of SOX4 in vitro. Tumor xenografts were analyzed after inoculating the relevant cell lines into nude mice. RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, non-targeted metabolomics analysis, as well as molecular and biochemical assays were carried out to determine the mechanism. RESULTS We screened public datasets and identified that expression of SOX4 was significantly elevated in NEPC. Overexpressing SOX4 in C4-2B cells increased cell proliferation and migration, upregulated the expression of NE marker genes, and inhibited AR expression. Consistently, inhibition of SOX4 expression in DU-145 and PC-3 cells reduced the above malignant phenotypes and repressed the expression of NE marker genes. For the in vivo assay, we found that knockdown of SOX4 inhibited tumor growth of subcutaneous xenografts in castrated nude mice which were concomitantly treated with enzalutamide (ENZ). Mechanically, we identified that one of the key enzymes in gluconeogenesis, PCK2, was a novel target of SOX4. The activation of carbohydrate metabolism reprogramming by SOX4 could promote NE trans-differentiation via the SOX4/PCK2 pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that SOX4 promotes NE trans-differentiation both in vitro and in vivo via directly enhancing PCK2 activity to activate carbohydrate metabolism reprogramming. The SOX4/PCK2 pathway and its downstream changes might be novel targets for blocking NE trans-differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zhenkeke Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Xinxing Du
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhenzhen Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Baijun Dong
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Yu-Xiang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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12
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Zhou Y, Zeng F, Richards GO, Wang N. ENO2, a Glycolytic Enzyme, Contributes to Prostate Cancer Metastasis: A Systematic Review of Literature. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2503. [PMID: 39061144 PMCID: PMC11274830 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16142503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of male cancer deaths in the UK and the fifth worldwide. The presence of distant PCa metastasis can reduce the 5-year survival rate from 100% to approximately 30%. Enolase 2 (ENO2), a crucial glycolytic enzyme in cancer metabolism, is associated with the metastasis of multiple cancers and is also used as a marker for neuroendocrine tumours. However, its role in PCa metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we systematically reviewed the current literature to determine the association between ENO2 and metastatic PCa. Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched for eligible studies. The search yielded five studies assessing ENO2 expression in PCa patients or cell lines. The three human studies suggested that ENO2 expression is correlated with late-stage, aggressive PCa, including castrate-resistant PCa (CRPC), metastatic CRPC, and neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC). This was further supported by two in vitro studies indicating that ENO2 expression can be regulated by the tumour microenvironment, such as androgen deprived conditions and the presence of bone-forming osteoblasts. Therefore, ENO2 may functionally contribute to PCa metastasis, possibly due to the unique metabolic features of PCa, which are glycolysis dependent only at the advanced metastatic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Zhou
- Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Feier Zeng
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LX, UK
| | - Gareth Owain Richards
- Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Ning Wang
- Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7LX, UK
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13
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Zaidi S, Park J, Chan JM, Roudier MP, Zhao JL, Gopalan A, Wadosky KM, Patel RA, Sayar E, Karthaus WR, Kates DH, Chaudhary O, Xu T, Masilionis I, Mazutis L, Chaligné R, Obradovic A, Linkov I, Barlas A, Jungbluth AA, Rekhtman N, Silber J, Manova-Todorova K, Watson PA, True LD, Morrissey C, Scher HI, Rathkopf DE, Morris MJ, Goodrich DW, Choi J, Nelson PS, Haffner MC, Sawyers CL. Single-cell analysis of treatment-resistant prostate cancer: Implications of cell state changes for cell surface antigen-targeted therapies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322203121. [PMID: 38968122 PMCID: PMC11252802 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322203121] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeting cell surface molecules using radioligand and antibody-based therapies has yielded considerable success across cancers. However, it remains unclear how the expression of putative lineage markers, particularly cell surface molecules, varies in the process of lineage plasticity, wherein tumor cells alter their identity and acquire new oncogenic properties. A notable example of lineage plasticity is the transformation of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC)-a growing resistance mechanism that results in the loss of responsiveness to androgen blockade and portends dismal patient survival. To understand how lineage markers vary across the evolution of lineage plasticity in prostate cancer, we applied single-cell analyses to 21 human prostate tumor biopsies and two genetically engineered mouse models, together with tissue microarray analysis on 131 tumor samples. Not only did we observe a higher degree of phenotypic heterogeneity in castrate-resistant PRAD and NEPC than previously anticipated but also found that the expression of molecules targeted therapeutically, namely PSMA, STEAP1, STEAP2, TROP2, CEACAM5, and DLL3, varied within a subset of gene-regulatory networks (GRNs). We also noted that NEPC and small cell lung cancer subtypes shared a set of GRNs, indicative of conserved biologic pathways that may be exploited therapeutically across tumor types. While this extreme level of transcriptional heterogeneity, particularly in cell surface marker expression, may mitigate the durability of clinical responses to current and future antigen-directed therapies, its delineation may yield signatures for patient selection in clinical trials, potentially across distinct cancer types.
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MESH Headings
- Male
- Humans
- Single-Cell Analysis/methods
- Animals
- Mice
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma/pathology
- Adenocarcinoma/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/drug therapy
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Zaidi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Jooyoung Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul02841, Korea
| | - Joseph M. Chan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | | | | | - Anuradha Gopalan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Kristine M. Wadosky
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY14263
| | - Radhika A. Patel
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Erolcan Sayar
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Wouter R. Karthaus
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne1015, Switzerland
| | - D. Henry Kates
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Ojasvi Chaudhary
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Tianhao Xu
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Ignas Masilionis
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Linas Mazutis
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Ronan Chaligné
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Aleksandar Obradovic
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
| | - Irina Linkov
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Afsar Barlas
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New YorkNY10065
| | - Achim A. Jungbluth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Natasha Rekhtman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Joachim Silber
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Katia Manova-Todorova
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New YorkNY10065
| | - Philip A. Watson
- Research Outreach and Compliance, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Lawrence D. True
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Howard I. Scher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Dana E. Rathkopf
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Michael J. Morris
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - David W. Goodrich
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY14263
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul02841, Korea
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Michael C. Haffner
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98195
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Charles L. Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
- HHMI, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
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14
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Bakht MK, Beltran H. Biological determinants of PSMA expression, regulation and heterogeneity in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 2024:10.1038/s41585-024-00900-z. [PMID: 38977769 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00900-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an important cell-surface imaging biomarker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. The PSMA-targeted theranostic 177Lu-PSMA-617 was approved in 2022 for men with PSMA-PET-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, not all patients respond to PSMA-radioligand therapy, in part owing to the heterogeneity of PSMA expression in the tumour. The PSMA regulatory network is composed of a PSMA transcription complex, an upstream enhancer that loops to the FOLH1 (PSMA) gene promoter, intergenic enhancers and differentially methylated regions. Our understanding of the PSMA regulatory network and the mechanisms underlying PSMA suppression is evolving. Clinically, molecular imaging provides a unique window into PSMA dynamics that occur on therapy and with disease progression, although challenges arise owing to the limited resolution of PET. PSMA regulation and heterogeneity - including intertumoural and inter-patient heterogeneity, temporal changes, lineage dynamics and the tumour microenvironment - affect PSMA theranostics. PSMA response and resistance to radioligand therapy are mediated by a number of potential mechanisms, and complementary biomarkers beyond PSMA are under development. Understanding the biological determinants of cell surface target regulation and heterogeneity can inform precision medicine approaches to PSMA theranostics as well as other emerging therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin K Bakht
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Himisha Beltran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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15
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Zhang D, Ma B, Liu D, Wu W, Zhou T, Gao Y, Yang C, Jian Y, Fan Y, Qian Y, Ma J, Gao Y, Chen Y, Xu S, Li L. Discovery of a peptide proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) drug of p300 for prostate cancer therapy. EBioMedicine 2024; 105:105212. [PMID: 38954976 PMCID: PMC11261775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The E1A-associated protein p300 (p300) has emerged as a promising target for cancer therapy due to its crucial role in promoting oncogenic signaling pathways in various cancers, including prostate cancer. This need is particularly significant in prostate cancer. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has demonstrated promising efficacy in prostate cancer, its long-term use can eventually lead to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Notably, p300 has been identified as an important co-activator of the androgen receptor (AR), highlighting its significance in prostate cancer progression. Moreover, recent studies have revealed the involvement of p300 in AR-independent oncogenes associated with NEPC. Therefore, the blockade of p300 may emerge as an effective therapeutic strategy to address the challenges posed by both CRPC and NEPC. METHODS We employed AI-assisted design to develop a peptide-based PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimera) drug that targets p300, effectively degrading p300 in vitro and in vivo utilizing nano-selenium as a peptide drug delivery system. FINDINGS Our p300-targeting peptide PROTAC drug demonstrated effective p300 degradation and cancer cell-killing capabilities in both CRPC, AR-negative, and NEPC cells. This study demonstrated the efficacy of a p300-targeting drug in NEPC cells. In both AR-positive and AR-negative mouse models, the p300 PROTAC drug showed potent p300 degradation and tumor suppression. INTERPRETATION The design of peptide PROTAC drug targeting p300 is feasible and represents an efficient therapeutic strategy for CRPC, AR-negative prostate cancer, and NEPC. FUNDING The funding details can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dize Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bohan Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Donghua Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianyang Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yibo Gao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Cunli Yang
- Department of the Operating Theater, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanlin Jian
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yizeng Fan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuchen Qian
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yule Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shan Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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16
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Sharkey C, Long X, Al-Faouri R, Strand D, Olumi AF, Wang Z. Enhanced prostatic Esr1 + luminal epithelial cells in the absence of SRD5A2. J Pathol 2024; 263:300-314. [PMID: 38606616 PMCID: PMC11166526 DOI: 10.1002/path.6283] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Steroid 5α reductase 2 (SRD5A2) converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and is crucial for prostatic development. 5α reductase inhibitors (5ARI) reduce prostate size in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and ameliorate lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH. However, the mechanisms of 5ARI functioning are still not fully understood. Here, we used a Srd5a2-/- mouse model and employed single-cell RNA sequencing to explore the impact of SRD5A2 absence on prostate cellular heterogeneity. Significant alterations in luminal epithelial cell (LE) populations were observed, alongside an increased proportion and proliferative phenotype of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)+ LE2 cells, following an SRD5A2-independent ESR1 differentiation trajectory. LE2 cells exhibited enhanced estrogen response gene signatures, suggesting an alternative pathway for prostate growth when SRD5A2 is absent. Human prostate biopsy analysis revealed an inverse correlation between the expressions of SRD5A2 and LE2 markers (ESR1/PKCα), and an inverse correlation between SRD5A2 and the clinical efficiency of 5ARI. These findings provide insights into 5ARI resistance mechanisms and potential alternative therapies for BPH-related lower urinary tract symptoms. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Sharkey
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xingbo Long
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Ra’ad Al-Faouri
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas Strand
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aria F. Olumi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zongwei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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17
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Liu YN, Chen WY, Yeh HL, Chen WH, Jiang KC, Li HR, Dung PVT, Chen ZQ, Lee WJ, Hsiao M, Huang J, Wen YC. MCTP1 increases the malignancy of androgen-deprived prostate cancer cells by inducing neuroendocrine differentiation and EMT. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadc9142. [PMID: 38861615 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adc9142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (PCa) (NEPC), an aggressive subtype that is associated with poor prognosis, may arise after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We investigated the molecular mechanisms by which ADT induces neuroendocrine differentiation in advanced PCa. We found that transmembrane protein 1 (MCTP1), which has putative Ca2+ sensing function and multiple Ca2+-binding C2 domains, was abundant in samples from patients with advanced PCa. MCTP1 was associated with the expression of the EMT-associated transcription factors ZBTB46, FOXA2, and HIF1A. The increased abundance of MCTP1 promoted PC3 prostate cancer cell migration and neuroendocrine differentiation and was associated with SNAI1-dependent EMT in C4-2 PCa cells after ADT. ZBTB46 interacted with FOXA2 and HIF1A and increased the abundance of MCTP1 in a hypoxia-dependent manner. MCTP1 stimulated Ca2+ signaling and AKT activation to promote EMT and neuroendocrine differentiation by increasing the SNAI1-dependent expression of EMT and neuroendocrine markers, effects that were blocked by knockdown of MCTP1. These data suggest an oncogenic role for MCTP1 in the maintenance of a rare and aggressive prostate cancer subtype through its response to Ca2+ and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Nien Liu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Chen
- Department of Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Lien Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hao Chen
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Ching Jiang
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ru Li
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Phan Vu Thuy Dung
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Qing Chen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jiunn Lee
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yu-Ching Wen
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Urology and Kidney, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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18
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Carceles-Cordon M, Orme JJ, Domingo-Domenech J, Rodriguez-Bravo V. The yin and yang of chromosomal instability in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 2024; 21:357-372. [PMID: 38307951 PMCID: PMC11156566 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00845-9] [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] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic prostate cancer remains an incurable lethal disease. Studies indicate that prostate cancer accumulates genomic changes during disease progression and displays the highest levels of chromosomal instability (CIN) across all types of metastatic tumours. CIN, which refers to ongoing chromosomal DNA gain or loss during mitosis, and derived aneuploidy, are known to be associated with increased tumour heterogeneity, metastasis and therapy resistance in many tumour types. Paradoxically, high CIN levels are also proposed to be detrimental to tumour cell survival, suggesting that cancer cells must develop adaptive mechanisms to ensure their survival. In the context of prostate cancer, studies indicate that CIN has a key role in disease progression and might also offer a therapeutic vulnerability that can be pharmacologically targeted. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of the causes and consequences of CIN in prostate cancer, its contribution to aggressive advanced disease and a better understanding of the acquired CIN tolerance mechanisms can translate into new tumour classifications, biomarker development and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob J Orme
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Josep Domingo-Domenech
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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19
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Choo N, Keerthikumar S, Ramm S, Ashikari D, Teng L, Niranjan B, Hedwards S, Porter LH, Goode DL, Simpson KJ, Taylor RA, Risbridger GP, Lawrence MG. Co-targeting BET, CBP, and p300 inhibits neuroendocrine signalling in androgen receptor-null prostate cancer. J Pathol 2024; 263:242-256. [PMID: 38578195 DOI: 10.1002/path.6280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
There are diverse phenotypes of castration-resistant prostate cancer, including neuroendocrine disease, that vary in their sensitivity to drug treatment. The efficacy of BET and CBP/p300 inhibitors in prostate cancer is attributed, at least in part, to their ability to decrease androgen receptor (AR) signalling. However, the activity of BET and CBP/p300 inhibitors in prostate cancers that lack the AR is unclear. In this study, we showed that BRD4, CBP, and p300 were co-expressed in AR-positive and AR-null prostate cancer. A combined inhibitor of these three proteins, NEO2734, reduced the growth of both AR-positive and AR-null organoids, as measured by changes in viability, size, and composition. NEO2734 treatment caused consistent transcriptional downregulation of cell cycle pathways. In neuroendocrine models, NEO2734 treatment reduced ASCL1 levels and other neuroendocrine markers, and reduced tumour growth in vivo. Collectively, these results show that epigenome-targeted inhibitors cause decreased growth and phenotype-dependent disruption of lineage regulators in neuroendocrine prostate cancer, warranting further development of compounds with this activity in the clinic. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Choo
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shivakumar Keerthikumar
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susanne Ramm
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daisaku Ashikari
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda Teng
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Birunthi Niranjan
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shelley Hedwards
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura H Porter
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - David L Goode
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Computational Cancer Biology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kaylene J Simpson
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Renea A Taylor
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cabrini Institute, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gail P Risbridger
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Cabrini Institute, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mitchell G Lawrence
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Cabrini Institute, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
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20
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Artamonova N, Djanani A, Schmiederer A, Pipp I, Compérat E, di Santo G, Aigner F, von der Heidt A, Heidegger I. Small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer with adenocarcinoma components-case report and literature review. Transl Androl Urol 2024; 13:868-878. [PMID: 38855597 PMCID: PMC11157388 DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNC) is a rare aggressive type of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) characterized by aggressive clinical course and lack of response to hormone therapy. Case Description We present a case report of a 60-year-old man diagnosed with a histologically confirmed primary metastatic (bone, lymph nodes and visceral) SCNC with small components of an adenocarcinoma with clinical symptoms mimicking an acute prostatitis. Of note, serum based neuroendocrine markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin A) were negative and the patient had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) elevation. Genetic testing of tumor tissue revealed breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2) copy number loss and a retinoblastoma gene (RB1) mutation reflecting again the aggressiveness of the disease. Germline testing for the BRCA2 copy number loss was unremarkable. After 6 cycles of carboplatin and etoposide in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status has improved from 3 to 0, in addition the patient was free of pain. In line with clinical improvement, both prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) revealed a significant reduction of metastatic load. Currently, the patient is treated with ADT plus apalutamide. Conclusions We demonstrate for the first time a case of a primary metastatic SCNC with adenocarcinoma components successfully treated by the combination of platinum-based chemotherapy plus hormonal therapy. In addition, we provide a literature overview on management of SCNC as there is no standard treatment established for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Djanani
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Schmiederer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Iris Pipp
- Clinical Pathology and Cytodiagnostics, Tirol-Kliniken, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva Compérat
- Department of Pathology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gianpaolo di Santo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Friedrich Aigner
- Department of Radiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Isabel Heidegger
- Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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21
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Bhattacharya S, Stillahn A, Smith K, Muders M, Datta K, Dutta S. Understanding the molecular regulators of neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2024; 161:403-429. [PMID: 39032955 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Worldwide, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a leading cause of death in men. Histologically, the majority of PCa cases are classified as adenocarcinomas, which are mainly composed of androgen receptor-positive luminal cells. PCa is initially driven by the androgen receptor axis, where androgen-mediated activation of the receptor is one of the primary culprits for disease progression. Therefore, in advanced stage PCa, patients are generally treated with androgen deprivation therapies alone or in combination with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. However, after an initial decrease, the cancer recurs for majority patients. At this stage, cancer is known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Majority of CRPC tumors still depend on androgen receptor axis for its progression to metastasis. However, in around 20-30% of cases, CRPC progresses via an androgen receptor-independent pathway and is often presented as neuroendocrine cancer (NE). This NE phenotype is highly aggressive with poor overall survival as compared to CRPC adenocarcinoma. NE cancers are resistant to standard taxane chemotherapies, which are often used to treat metastatic disease. Pathologically and morphologically, NE cancers are highly diverse and often co-exist with adenocarcinoma. Due to the lack of proper biomarkers, it is often difficult to make an early diagnosis of this lethal disease. Moreover, increased tumor heterogeneity and admixtures of adeno and NE subtypes in the same tumor make early detection of NE tumors very difficult. With the advancement of our knowledge and sequencing technology, we are now able to better understand the molecular mediators of this transformation pathway. This current study will give an update on how various molecular regulators are involved in these lineage transformation processes and what challenges we are still facing to detect and treat this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreyashi Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Avery Stillahn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States
| | - Kaitlin Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Kaustubh Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Samikshan Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massy Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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22
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Zheng D, Zhang Y, Yang S, Su N, Bakhoum M, Zhang G, Naderinezhad S, Mao Z, Wang Z, Zhou T, Li W. Androgen deprivation induces neuroendocrine phenotypes in prostate cancer cells through CREB1/EZH2-mediated downregulation of REST. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:246. [PMID: 38777812 PMCID: PMC11111810 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02031-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Although effective initially, prolonged androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) promotes neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) and prostate cancer (PCa) progression. It is incompletely understood how ADT transcriptionally induces NE genes in PCa cells. CREB1 and REST are known to positively and negatively regulate neuronal gene expression in the brain, respectively. No direct link between these two master neuronal regulators has been elucidated in the NED of PCa. We show that REST mRNA is downregulated in NEPC cell and mouse models, as well as in patient samples. Phenotypically, REST overexpression increases ADT sensitivity, represses NE genes, inhibits colony formation in culture, and xenograft tumor growth of PCa cells. As expected, ADT downregulates REST in PCa cells in culture and in mouse xenografts. Interestingly, CREB1 signaling represses REST expression. In studying the largely unclear mechanism underlying transcriptional repression of REST by ADT, we found that REST is a direct target of EZH2 epigenetic repression. Finally, genetic rescue experiments demonstrated that ADT induces NED through EZH2's repression of REST, which is enhanced by ADT-activated CREB1 signaling. In summary, our study has revealed a key pathway underlying NE gene upregulation by ADT, as well as established novel relationships between CREB1 and REST, and between EZH2 and REST, which may also have implications in other cancer types and in neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayong Zheng
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- The First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pain, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sukjin Yang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ning Su
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael Bakhoum
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guoliang Zhang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samira Naderinezhad
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhengmei Mao
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ting Zhou
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wenliang Li
- Texas Therapeutics Institute; Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
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23
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Wei G, Zhang X, Liu S, Hou W, Dai Z. Comprehensive data mining reveals RTK/RAS signaling pathway as a promoter of prostate cancer lineage plasticity through transcription factors and CNV. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11688. [PMID: 38778150 PMCID: PMC11111877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62256-z] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer lineage plasticity is a key driver in the transition to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway is a well-established cancer pathway. Nevertheless, the comprehensive link between the RTK/RAS signaling pathway and lineage plasticity has received limited investigation. In particular, the intricate regulatory network governing the interplay between RTK/RAS and lineage plasticity remains largely unexplored. The multi-omics data were clustered with the coefficient of argument and neighbor joining algorithm. Subsequently, the clustered results were analyzed utilizing the GSEA, gene sets related to stemness, multi-lineage state datasets, and canonical cancer pathway gene sets. Finally, a comprehensive exploration of the data based on the ssGSEA, WGCNA, GSEA, VIPER, prostate cancer scRNA-seq data, and the GPSAdb database was conducted. Among the six modules in the clustering results, there are 300 overlapping genes, including 3 previously unreported prostate cancer genes that were validated to be upregulated in prostate cancer through RT-qPCR. Function Module 6 shows a positive correlation with prostate cancer cell stemness, multi-lineage states, and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway. Additionally, the 19 leading-edge genes of the RTK/RAS signaling pathway promote prostate cancer lineage plasticity through a complex network of transcriptional regulation and copy number variations. In the transcriptional regulation network, TP63 and FOXO1 act as suppressors of prostate cancer lineage plasticity, whereas RORC exerts a promoting effect. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the role of the RTK/RAS pathway in prostate cancer lineage plasticity and offers new clues for the treatment of NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyun Wei
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong University, Wuxi, China
| | - Siyuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wanxin Hou
- Research Center for Intelligent Information Technology, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zao Dai
- Research Center for Intelligent Information Technology, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
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Worley J, Noh H, You D, Turunen MM, Ding H, Paull E, Griffin AT, Grunn A, Zhang M, Guillan K, Bush EC, Brosius SJ, Hibshoosh H, Mundi PS, Sims P, Dalerba P, Dela Cruz FS, Kung AL, Califano A. Identification and Pharmacological Targeting of Treatment-Resistant, Stem-like Breast Cancer Cells for Combination Therapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.08.562798. [PMID: 38798673 PMCID: PMC11118419 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.08.562798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Tumors frequently harbor isogenic yet epigenetically distinct subpopulations of multi-potent cells with high tumor-initiating potential-often called Cancer Stem-Like Cells (CSLCs). These can display preferential resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapy. Single-cell analyses can help elucidate Master Regulator (MR) proteins responsible for governing the transcriptional state of these cells, thus revealing complementary dependencies that may be leveraged via combination therapy. Interrogation of single-cell RNA sequencing profiles from seven metastatic breast cancer patients, using perturbational profiles of clinically relevant drugs, identified drugs predicted to invert the activity of MR proteins governing the transcriptional state of chemoresistant CSLCs, which were then validated by CROP-seq assays. The top drug, the anthelmintic albendazole, depleted this subpopulation in vivo without noticeable cytotoxicity. Moreover, sequential cycles of albendazole and paclitaxel-a commonly used chemotherapeutic -displayed significant synergy in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) from a TNBC patient, suggesting that network-based approaches can help develop mechanism-based combinatorial therapies targeting complementary subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Worley
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- J.P. Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY USA 10032
| | - Heeju Noh
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Daoqi You
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mikko M Turunen
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Hongxu Ding
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA 85721
| | - Evan Paull
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Aaron T Griffin
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Adina Grunn
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Mingxuan Zhang
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Kristina Guillan
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Erin C Bush
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Samantha J Brosius
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hanina Hibshoosh
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Prabhjot S Mundi
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Peter Sims
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Piero Dalerba
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
| | - Filemon S Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrea Califano
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA 10032
- J.P. Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY USA 10032
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Jing N, Du X, Liang Y, Tao Z, Bao S, Xiao H, Dong B, Gao WQ, Fang YX. PAX6 promotes neuroendocrine phenotypes of prostate cancer via enhancing MET/STAT5A-mediated chromatin accessibility. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:144. [PMID: 38745318 PMCID: PMC11094950 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03064-1] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subset of prostate cancer which is characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation and loss of androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Growing evidence reveals that cell lineage plasticity is crucial in the failure of NEPC therapies. Although studies suggest the involvement of the neural transcription factor PAX6 in drug resistance, its specific role in NEPC remains unclear. METHODS The expression of PAX6 in NEPC was identified via bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, tumorsphere formation assay and apoptosis assay were used to illustrate the key role of PAX6 in the progression of in vitro. ChIP and Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to confirm the binding sequences of AR in the promoter region of PAX6, as well as the binding sequences of PAX6 in the promoter regions of STAT5A and MET. For in vivo validation, the xenograft model representing NEPC subtype underwent pathological analysis to verify the significant role of PAX6 in disease progression. Complementary diagnoses were established through public clinical datasets and transcriptome sequencing of specific cell lines. ATAC-seq was used to detect the chromatin accessibility of specific cell lines. RESULTS PAX6 expression was significantly elevated in NEPC and negatively regulated by AR signaling. Activation of PAX6 in non-NEPC cells led to NE trans-differentiation, while knock-down of PAX6 in NEPC cells inhibited the development and progression of NEPC. Importantly, loss of AR resulted in an enhanced expression of PAX6, which reprogramed the lineage plasticity of prostate cancer cells to develop NE phenotypes through the MET/STAT5A signaling pathway. Through ATAC-seq, we found that a high expression level of PAX6 elicited enhanced chromatin accessibility, mainly through attenuation of H4K20me3, which typically causes chromatin silence in cancer cells. CONCLUSION This study reveals a novel neural transcription factor PAX6 could drive NEPC progression and suggest that it might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the management of NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
- Med-X Research Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xinxing Du
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - ZhenKeke Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Shijia Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Huixiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Baijun Dong
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- Med-X Research Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Yu-Xiang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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Di Y, Song J, Song Z, Wang Y, Meng L. Prognostic nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival with small-cell carcinoma of the prostate: a multi-institutional study. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1349888. [PMID: 38800400 PMCID: PMC11116562 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1349888] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to examine the predictive factors for cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients diagnosed with Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate (SCCP) and to construct a prognostic model. Methods Cases were selected using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to calculate survival rates, while Lasso and Cox regression were employed to analyze prognostic factors. An independent prognostic factor-based nomogram was created to forecast CSS at 12 and 24 months. The model's predictive efficacy was assessed using the consistency index (C-index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in separate tests. Results Following the analysis of Cox and Lasso regression, age, race, Summary stage, and chemotherapy were determined to be significant risk factors (P < 0.05). In the group of participants who received training, the rate of 12-month CSS was 44.6%, the rate of 24-month CSS was 25.5%, and the median time for CSS was 10.5 months. The C-index for the training cohort was 0.7688 ± 0.024. As for the validation cohort, it was 0.661 ± 0.041. According to the nomogram, CSS was accurately predicted and demonstrated consistent and satisfactory predictive performance at both 12 months (87.3% compared to 71.2%) and 24 months (80.4% compared to 71.7%). As shown in the external validation calibration plot, the AUC for 12- and 24-month is 64.6% vs. 56.9% and 87.0% vs. 70.7%, respectively. Based on the calibration plot of the CSS nomogram at both the 12-month and 24-month marks, it can be observed that both the actual values and the nomogram predictions indicate a predominantly stable CSS. When compared to the AJCC staging system, DCA demonstrated a higher level of accuracy in predicting CSS through the use of a nomogram. Conclusion Clinical prognostic factors can be utilized with nomograms to forecast CSS in Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate (SCCP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Di
- Department of Radiotherapy, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jiazhao Song
- Department of Radiotherapy, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Song
- Department of Radiotherapy, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Lingling Meng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Cheng S, Li L, Yeh Y, Shi Y, Franco O, Corey E, Yu X. Unveiling Novel Double-Negative Prostate Cancer Subtypes Through Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Analysis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.11.553009. [PMID: 38746150 PMCID: PMC11092429 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.553009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) have facilitated the discovery of previously unrecognized subtypes within prostate cancer (PCa), offering new insights into disease heterogeneity and progression. In this study, we integrated scRNAseq data from multiple studies, comprising both publicly available cohorts and data generated by our research team, and established the HuPSA (Human Prostate Single cell Atlas) and the MoPSA (Mouse Prostate Single cell Atlas) datasets. Through comprehensive analysis, we identified two novel double-negative PCa populations: KRT7 cells characterized by elevated KRT7 expression, and progenitor-like cells marked by SOX2 and FOXA2 expression, distinct from NEPCa, and displaying stem/progenitor features. Furthermore, HuPSA-based deconvolution allowed for the re-classification of human PCa specimens, validating the presence of these novel subtypes. Leveraging these findings, we developed a user-friendly web application, "HuPSA-MoPSA" (https://pcatools.shinyapps.io/HuPSA-MoPSA/), for visualizing gene expression across all newly-established datasets. Our study provides comprehensive tools for PCa research and uncovers novel cancer subtypes that can inform clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
| | - Yunshin Yeh
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA
| | - Yingli Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
| | - Omar Franco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Xiuping Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
- Department of Urology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
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28
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Fan Z, Yu Q, Deng J, Wang K, Yu H, Fan X, Xie J. Unveiling hormone-stimulated gene mechanisms in prostate cancer: A prognostic model, immune infiltration analysis, and drug sensitivity study. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:3238-3252. [PMID: 38361268 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Hormones promote the progression of prostate cancer (PRCA) through the activation of a complex regulatory network. Inhibition of hormones or modulation of specific network nodes alone is insufficient to suppress the entire oncogenic network. Therefore, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of PRCA in order to identify reliable diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. To this end, we used publicly available data to analyze the potential mechanisms of hormone-stimulated genes in PRCA, construct a prognostic model, and assess immune infiltration and drug sensitivity. The single-cell RNA-sequencing data of PRCA were subjected to dimensionality reduction clustering and annotation, and the cells were categorized into two groups based on hormone stimulus-related scores. The differentially expressed genes between the two groups were screened and incorporated into the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator machine learning algorithm, and a prognostic model comprising six genes (ZNF862, YIF1A, USP22, TAF7, SRSF3, and SPARC) was constructed. The robustness of the model was validation through multiple methods. Immune infiltration scores in the two risk groups were calculated using three different algorithms. In addition, the relationship between the model genes and immune cell infiltration, and that between risk score and immune cell infiltration were analyzed. Drug sensitivity analysis was performed for the model genes and risk score using public databases to identify potential candidate drugs. Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of hormone-stimulated genes in PRCA progression, prognosis, and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongru Fan
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Yu
- National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Units of Medical Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Junpeng Deng
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongqi Yu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xin Fan
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jianjun Xie
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
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Wang Y, Xue H, Zhu X, Lin D, Dong X, Chen Z, Chen J, Shi M, Ni Y, Cao J, Wu R, Kang N, Pang X, Crea F, Lin YY, Collins CC, Gleave ME, Parolia A, Chinnaiyan A, Ong CJ, Wang Y. Deciphering the Transcription Factor Landscape in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer Progression: A Novel Approach to Understand NE Transdifferentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.27.591428. [PMID: 38746377 PMCID: PMC11092479 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.27.591428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objective Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in men, with neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) representing a particularly resistant subtype. The role of transcription factors (TFs) in the progression from prostatic adenocarcinoma (PRAD) to NEPC is poorly understood. This study aims to identify and analyze lineage-specific TF profiles in PRAD and NEPC and illustrate their dynamic shifts during NE transdifferentiation. Methods A novel algorithmic approach was developed to evaluate the weighted expression of TFs within patient samples, enabling a nuanced understanding of TF landscapes in PCa progression and TF dynamic shifts during NE transdifferentiation. Results unveiled TF profiles for PRAD and NEPC, identifying 126 shared TFs, 46 adenocarcinoma-TFs, and 56 NEPC-TFs. Enrichment analysis across multiple clinical cohorts confirmed the lineage specificity and clinical relevance of these lineage-TFs signatures. Functional analysis revealed that lineage-TFs are implicated in pathways critical to cell development, differentiation, and lineage determination. Novel lineage-TF candidates were identified, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, our longitudinal study on NE transdifferentiation highlighted dynamic TF expression shifts and delineated a three-phase hypothesis for the process comprised of de-differentiation, dormancy, and re-differentiation. and proposing novel insights into the mechanisms of PCa progression. Conclusion The lineage-specific TF profiles in PRAD and NEPC reveal a dynamic shift in the TF landscape during PCa progression, highlighting three distinct phases of NE transdifferentiation.
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Wang J, Ding HK, Xu HJ, Hu DK, Hankey W, Chen L, Xiao J, Liang CZ, Zhao B, Xu LF. Single-cell analysis revealing the metabolic landscape of prostate cancer. Asian J Androl 2024:00129336-990000000-00179. [PMID: 38657119 DOI: 10.4103/aja20243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer development, and targeting metabolic vulnerabilities has been proven to be an effective approach for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) treatment. Nevertheless, treatment failure inevitably occurs, largely due to cellular heterogeneity, which cannot be deciphered by traditional bulk sequencing techniques. By employing computational pipelines for single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that epithelial cells within the prostate are more metabolically active and plastic than stromal cells. Moreover, we identified that neuroendocrine (NE) cells tend to have high metabolic rates, which might explain the high demand for nutrients and energy exhibited by neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), one of the most lethal variants of prostate cancer (PCa). Additionally, we demonstrated through computational and experimental approaches that variation in mitochondrial activity is the greatest contributor to metabolic heterogeneity among both tumor cells and nontumor cells. These results establish a detailed metabolic landscape of PCa, highlight a potential mechanism of disease progression, and emphasize the importance of future studies on tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment from a metabolic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230031, China
| | - He-Kang Ding
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Han-Jiang Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
| | - De-Kai Hu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
| | - William Hankey
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Chao-Zhao Liang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Ling-Fan Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China
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Vellky JE, Kirkpatrick BJ, Gutgesell LC, Morales M, Brown RM, Wu Y, Maienschein-Cline M, Notardonato LD, Weinfeld MS, Nguyen RH, Brister E, Sverdlov M, Liu L, Xu Z, Kregel S, Nonn L, Vander Griend DJ, Reizine NM. ERBB3 Overexpression is Enriched in Diverse Patient Populations with Castration-sensitive Prostate Cancer and is Associated with a Unique AR Activity Signature. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1530-1543. [PMID: 38306015 PMCID: PMC11016893 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2161] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite successful clinical management of castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC), the 5-year survival rate for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer is only 32%. Combination treatment strategies to prevent disease recurrence are increasing, albeit in biomarker-unselected patients. Identifying a biomarker in CSPC to stratify patients who will progress on standard-of-care therapy could guide therapeutic strategies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Targeted deep sequencing was performed for the University of Illinois (UI) cohort (n = 30), and immunostaining was performed on a patient tissue microarray (n = 149). Bioinformatic analyses identified pathways associated with biomarker overexpression (OE) in the UI cohort, consolidated RNA sequencing samples accessed from Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (n = 664), and GSE209954 (n = 68). Neutralizing antibody patritumab and ectopic HER3 OE were utilized for functional mechanistic experiments. RESULTS We identified ERBB3 OE in diverse patient populations with CSPC, where it was associated with advanced disease at diagnosis. Bioinformatic analyses showed a positive correlation between ERBB3 expression and the androgen response pathway despite low dihydrotestosterone and stable expression of androgen receptor (AR) transcript in Black/African American men. At the protein level, HER3 expression was negatively correlated with intraprostatic androgen in Black/African American men. Mechanistically, HER3 promoted enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer cell line models and HER3-targeted therapy resensitized therapy-resistant prostate cancer cell lines to enzalutamide. CONCLUSIONS In diverse patient populations with CSPC, ERBB3 OE was associated with high AR signaling despite low intraprostatic androgen. Mechanistic studies demonstrated a direct link between HER3 and enzalutamide resistance. ERBB3 OE as a biomarker could thus stratify patients for intensification of therapy in castration-sensitive disease, including targeting HER3 directly to improve sensitivity to AR-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan E. Vellky
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Lisa C. Gutgesell
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mathias Morales
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ryan M. Brown
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yaqi Wu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mark Maienschein-Cline
- Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lucia D. Notardonato
- UI Health Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michael S. Weinfeld
- UI Health Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ryan H. Nguyen
- UI Health Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Eileen Brister
- Research Tissue Imaging Core, Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maria Sverdlov
- Research Histology Core, Research Resource Center, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Li Liu
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ziqiao Xu
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Steven Kregel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Larisa Nonn
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Donald J. Vander Griend
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Natalie M. Reizine
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
- UI Health Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Turnham DJ, Mullen MS, Bullock NP, Gilroy KL, Richards AE, Patel R, Quintela M, Meniel VS, Seaton G, Kynaston H, Clarkson RWE, Phesse TJ, Nelson PS, Haffner MC, Staffurth JN, Pearson HB. Development and Characterisation of a New Patient-Derived Xenograft Model of AR-Negative Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cells 2024; 13:673. [PMID: 38667288 PMCID: PMC11049137 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080673] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As the treatment landscape for prostate cancer gradually evolves, the frequency of treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC) that is deficient for androgen receptor (AR) and neuroendocrine (NE) markers has increased. These prostate cancer subtypes are typically refractory to AR-directed therapies and exhibit poor clinical outcomes. Only a small range of NEPC/DNPC models exist, limiting our molecular understanding of this disease and hindering our ability to perform preclinical trials exploring novel therapies to treat NEPC/DNPC that are urgently needed in the clinic. Here, we report the development of the CU-PC01 PDX model that represents AR-negative mCRPC with PTEN/RB/PSMA loss and CTNN1B/TP53/BRCA2 genetic variants. The CU-PC01 model lacks classic NE markers, with only focal and/or weak expression of chromogranin A, INSM1 and CD56. Collectively, these findings are most consistent with a DNPC phenotype. Ex vivo and in vivo preclinical studies revealed that CU-PC01 PDX tumours are resistant to mCRPC standard-of-care treatments enzalutamide and docetaxel, mirroring the donor patient's treatment response. Furthermore, short-term CU-PC01 tumour explant cultures indicate this model is initially sensitive to PARP inhibition with olaparib. Thus, the CU-PC01 PDX model provides a valuable opportunity to study AR-negative mCRPC biology and to discover new treatment avenues for this hard-to-treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Turnham
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Manisha S. Mullen
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Nicholas P. Bullock
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | | | - Anna E. Richards
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Radhika Patel
- Division of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Marcos Quintela
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Valerie S. Meniel
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Gillian Seaton
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Howard Kynaston
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
- Department of Urology, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - Richard W. E. Clarkson
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Toby J. Phesse
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Division of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael C. Haffner
- Division of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - John N. Staffurth
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Helen B. Pearson
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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Li L, Cheng S, Yeh Y, Shi Y, Henderson N, Price D, Gu X, Yu X. The expression of PKM1 and PKM2 in developing, benign, and cancerous prostatic tissues. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1392085. [PMID: 38680860 PMCID: PMC11045992 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1392085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPCa) is the most aggressive type of prostate cancer (PCa). However, energy metabolism, one of the hallmarks of cancer, in NEPCa has not been well studied. Pyruvate kinase M (PKM), which catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, has two main splicing isoforms, PKM1 and PKM2. The expression pattern of PKM1 and PKM2 in NEPCa remains unknown. Methods In this study, we used immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, and bioinformatics analysis to examine the expression of PKM1 and PKM2 in mouse and human prostatic tissues. Results We found that PKM2 was the predominant isoform expressed throughout prostate development and PCa progression, with slightly reduced expression in murine NEPCa. PKM1 was mostly expressed in stromal cells but low-level PKM1 was also detected in prostate basal epithelial cells. Its expression was absent in the majority of prostate adenocarcinoma (AdPCa) specimens but present in a subset of NEPCa. Additionally, we evaluated the mRNA levels of ten PKM isoforms that express exon 9 (PKM1-like) or exon 10 (PKM2-like). Some of these isoforms showed notable expression levels in PCa cell lines and human PCa specimens. Discussion Our study characterized the expression pattern of PKM1 and PKM2 in prostatic tissues including developing, benign, and cancerous prostate. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding the metabolic changes in different PCa subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Siyuan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Yunshin Yeh
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Yingli Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Nikayla Henderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - David Price
- Department of Urology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Xin Gu
- Department of Pathology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Xiuping Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Department of Urology, LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, United States
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Zaidi S, Park J, Chan JM, Roudier MP, Zhao JL, Gopalan A, Wadosky KM, Patel RA, Sayar E, Karthaus WR, Henry Kates D, Chaudhary O, Xu T, Masilionis I, Mazutis L, Chaligné R, Obradovic A, Linkov I, Barlas A, Jungbluth A, Rekhtman N, Silber J, Manova–Todorova K, Watson PA, True LD, Morrissey CM, Scher HI, Rathkopf D, Morris MJ, Goodrich DW, Choi J, Nelson PS, Haffner MC, Sawyers CL. Single Cell Analysis of Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Implications of Cell State Changes for Cell Surface Antigen Targeted Therapies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588340. [PMID: 38645034 PMCID: PMC11030323 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Targeting cell surface molecules using radioligand and antibody-based therapies has yielded considerable success across cancers. However, it remains unclear how the expression of putative lineage markers, particularly cell surface molecules, varies in the process of lineage plasticity, wherein tumor cells alter their identity and acquire new oncogenic properties. A notable example of lineage plasticity is the transformation of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC)--a growing resistance mechanism that results in the loss of responsiveness to androgen blockade and portends dismal patient survival. To understand how lineage markers vary across the evolution of lineage plasticity in prostate cancer, we applied single cell analyses to 21 human prostate tumor biopsies and two genetically engineered mouse models, together with tissue microarray analysis (TMA) on 131 tumor samples. Not only did we observe a higher degree of phenotypic heterogeneity in castrate-resistant PRAD and NEPC than previously anticipated, but also found that the expression of molecules targeted therapeutically, namely PSMA, STEAP1, STEAP2, TROP2, CEACAM5, and DLL3, varied within a subset of gene-regulatory networks (GRNs). We also noted that NEPC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) subtypes shared a set of GRNs, indicative of conserved biologic pathways that may be exploited therapeutically across tumor types. While this extreme level of transcriptional heterogeneity, particularly in cell surface marker expression, may mitigate the durability of clinical responses to novel antigen-directed therapies, its delineation may yield signatures for patient selection in clinical trials, potentially across distinct cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Zaidi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jooyoung Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joseph M. Chan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | | | - Anuradha Gopalan
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kristine M. Wadosky
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Radhika A. Patel
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Erolcan Sayar
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Wouter R. Karthaus
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC). School of Life Sciences. EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - D. Henry Kates
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ojasvi Chaudhary
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tianhao Xu
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ignas Masilionis
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Linas Mazutis
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ronan Chaligné
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aleksandar Obradovic
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Irina Linkov
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Afsar Barlas
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Achim Jungbluth
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Natasha Rekhtman
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Joachim Silber
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Katia Manova–Todorova
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Philip A. Watson
- Research Outreach and Compliance, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lawrence D. True
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Colm M. Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Howard I. Scher
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dana Rathkopf
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael J. Morris
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David W. Goodrich
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael C. Haffner
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Charles L. Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Romero R, Chu T, González-Robles TJ, Smith P, Xie Y, Kaur H, Yoder S, Zhao H, Mao C, Kang W, Pulina MV, Lawrence KE, Gopalan A, Zaidi S, Yoo K, Choi J, Fan N, Gerstner O, Karthaus WR, DeStanchina E, Ruggles KV, Westcott PM, Chaligné R, Pe’er D, Sawyers CL. The neuroendocrine transition in prostate cancer is dynamic and dependent on ASCL1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588557. [PMID: 38645223 PMCID: PMC11030418 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Lineage plasticity is a recognized hallmark of cancer progression that can shape therapy outcomes. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating lineage plasticity remain poorly understood. Here, we describe a versatile in vivo platform to identify and interrogate the molecular determinants of neuroendocrine lineage transformation at different stages of prostate cancer progression. Adenocarcinomas reliably develop following orthotopic transplantation of primary mouse prostate organoids acutely engineered with human-relevant driver alterations (e.g., Rb1-/-; Trp53-/-; cMyc+ or Pten-/-; Trp53-/-; cMyc+), but only those with Rb1 deletion progress to ASCL1+ neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a highly aggressive, androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI)-resistant tumor. Importantly, we show this lineage transition requires a native in vivo microenvironment not replicated by conventional organoid culture. By integrating multiplexed immunofluorescence, spatial transcriptomics and PrismSpot to identify cell type-specific spatial gene modules, we reveal that ASCL1+ cells arise from KRT8+ luminal epithelial cells that progressively acquire transcriptional heterogeneity, producing large ASCL1+;KRT8- NEPC clusters. Ascl1 loss in established NEPC results in transient tumor regression followed by recurrence; however, Ascl1 deletion prior to transplantation completely abrogates lineage plasticity, yielding adenocarcinomas with elevated AR expression and marked sensitivity to castration. The dynamic feature of this model reveals the importance of timing of therapies focused on lineage plasticity and offers a platform for identification of additional lineage plasticity drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Romero
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tinyi Chu
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tania J. González-Robles
- Institute of Systems Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10061, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10061, USA
| | - Perianne Smith
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yubin Xie
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Harmanpreet Kaur
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sara Yoder
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Huiyong Zhao
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chenyi Mao
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Wenfei Kang
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maria V. Pulina
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kayla E. Lawrence
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anuradha Gopalan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Samir Zaidi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kwangmin Yoo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ning Fan
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Olivia Gerstner
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Wouter R. Karthaus
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elisa DeStanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kelly V. Ruggles
- Institute of Systems Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10061, USA
| | | | - Ronan Chaligné
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Alan and Sandra Gerry Metastasis and Tumor Ecosystems Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dana Pe’er
- Program for Computational and Systems Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Alan and Sandra Gerry Metastasis and Tumor Ecosystems Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Charles L. Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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Zou C, Li W, Zhang Y, Feng N, Chen S, Yan L, He Q, Wang K, Li W, Li Y, Wang Y, Xu B, Zhang D. Identification of an anaplastic subtype of prostate cancer amenable to therapies targeting SP1 or translation elongation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm7098. [PMID: 38569039 PMCID: PMC10990282 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Histopathological heterogeneity is a hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa). Using spatial and parallel single-nucleus transcriptomics, we report an androgen receptor (AR)-positive but neuroendocrine-null primary PCa subtype with morphologic and molecular characteristics of small cell carcinoma. Such small cell-like PCa (SCLPC) is clinically aggressive with low AR, but high stemness and proliferation, activity. Molecular characterization prioritizes protein translation, represented by up-regulation of many ribosomal protein genes, and SP1, a transcriptional factor that drives SCLPC phenotype and overexpresses in castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), as two potential therapeutic targets in AR-indifferent CRPC. An SP1-specific inhibitor, plicamycin, effectively suppresses CRPC growth in vivo. Homoharringtonine, a Food And Drug Administration-approved translation elongation inhibitor, impedes CRPC progression in preclinical models and patients with CRPC. We construct an SCLPC-specific signature capable of stratifying patients for drug selectivity. Our studies reveal the existence of SCLPC in admixed PCa pathology, which may mediate tumor relapse, and establish SP1 and translation elongation as actionable therapeutic targets for CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zou
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Wenchao Li
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ninghan Feng
- Department of Urology and Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi 214002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Saisai Chen
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lianlian Yan
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
| | - Qinju He
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wenjun Li
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yingying Li
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Urology and Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi 214002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
- National Medicine-Engineering Interdisciplinary Industry-Education Integration Innovation Platform (Ministry of Education), Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Dingxiao Zhang
- The Affiliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
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37
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Silva KCS, Tambwe N, Mahfouz DH, Wium M, Cacciatore S, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF. Transcription Factors in Prostate Cancer: Insights for Disease Development and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:450. [PMID: 38674385 PMCID: PMC11050257 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins essential for the regulation of gene expression, and they regulate the genes involved in different cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. Although their expression is essential in normal physiological conditions, abnormal regulation of TFs plays critical role in several diseases, including cancer. In prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in men, TFs are known to play crucial roles in the initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy of the disease. Understanding the interplay between these TFs and their downstream targets provides insights into the molecular basis of prostate cancer pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the involvement of key TFs, including the E26 Transformation-Specific (ETS) Family (ERG and SPDEF), NF-κB, Activating Protein-1 (AP-1), MYC, and androgen receptor (AR), in prostate cancer while focusing on the molecular mechanisms involved in prostate cancer development. We also discuss emerging diagnostic strategies, early detection, and risk stratification using TFs. Furthermore, we explore the development of therapeutic interventions targeting TF pathways, including the use of small molecule inhibitors, gene therapies, and immunotherapies, aimed at disrupting oncogenic TF signaling and improving patient outcomes. Understanding the complex regulation of TFs in prostate cancer provides valuable insights into disease biology, which ultimately may lead to advancing precision approaches for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla C. S. Silva
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Nadine Tambwe
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Dalia H. Mahfouz
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Martha Wium
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Stefano Cacciatore
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (K.C.S.S.); (N.T.); (D.H.M.); (M.W.); (S.C.); (J.D.P.)
- Integrative Biomedical Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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de Kouchkovsky I, Chan E, Schloss C, Poehlein C, Aggarwal R. Diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Prostate 2024; 84:426-440. [PMID: 38173302 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although most patients with prostate cancer (PC) respond to initial androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), castration-resistant disease invariably develops. Progression to treatment-emergent neuroendocrine PC (t-NEPC) represents a unique mechanism of resistance to androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy in which lineage plasticity and neuroendocrine differentiation induce a phenotypic switch from an AR-driven adenocarcinoma to an AR-independent NEPC. t-NEPC is characterized by an aggressive clinical course, increased resistance to AR-targeted therapies, and a poor overall prognosis. METHODS This review provides an overview of our current knowledge of NEPC, with a focus on the unmet needs, diagnosis, and clinical management of t-NEPC. RESULTS Evidence extrapolated from the literature on small cell lung cancer or data from metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC) cohorts enriched for t-NEPC suggests an increased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, optimal strategies for managing t-NEPC have not been established, and prospective clinical trial data are limited. Intertumoral heterogeneity within a given patient, as well as the lack of robust molecular or clinical biomarkers for early detection, often lead to delays in diagnosis and prolonged treatment with suboptimal strategies (i.e., conventional chemohormonal therapies for mCRPC), which may further contribute to poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Recent advances in genomic and molecular classification of NEPC and the development of novel biomarkers may facilitate an early diagnosis, help to identify promising therapeutic targets, and improve the selection of patients most likely to benefit from NEPC-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan de Kouchkovsky
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Emily Chan
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Rahul Aggarwal
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Sachdeva A, Roy A, Mandal S. Protein kinase D2-Aurora kinase A-ERK1/2 signalling axis drives neuroendocrine differentiation of epithelial ovarian cancer. Mol Cell Biochem 2024:10.1007/s11010-024-04986-2. [PMID: 38557789 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-024-04986-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is deadliest gynecological malignancy with poor prognosis and patient survival. Despite development of several therapeutic interventions such as poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, EOC remains unmanageable and discovery of novel early detection biomarkers and treatment targets are highly warranted. Although neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) is implicated in different human cancers including prostate adenocarcinoma and lung cancer, mechanistic studies concerning NED of epithelial ovarian cancer are lacking. We report that Aurora kinase A drives NED of epithelial ovarian cancer in an ERK1/2-dependent manner and pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Aurora kinase A suppress NED of ovarian cancer. Moreover, we demonstrate that protein kinase D2 positively regulated Aurora kinase A to drive NED. Overexpression of catalytically active PKD2 drives NED and collectively, PKD2 cross talks with Aurora kinase A/ERK1/2 signalling axis to positively regulate NED of EOC. PKD2/Aurora kinase A/ERK1/2 signalling axis is a novel therapeutic target against neuroendocrine differentiated EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abha Sachdeva
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201303, India
| | - Adhiraj Roy
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201303, India.
| | - Supratim Mandal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, 741235, India
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Lee E, Zhang Z, Chen CC, Choi D, Rivera ACA, Linton E, Ho YJ, Love J, LaClair J, Wongvipat J, Sawyers CL. Timing of treatment shapes the path to androgen receptor signaling inhibitor resistance in prostate cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585532. [PMID: 38562884 PMCID: PMC10983989 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
There is optimism that cancer drug resistance can be addressed through appropriate combination therapy, but success requires understanding the growing complexity of resistance mechanisms, including the evolution and population dynamics of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant clones over time. Using DNA barcoding to trace individual prostate tumor cells in vivo , we find that the evolutionary path to acquired resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibition (ARSI) is dependent on the timing of treatment. In established tumors, resistance occurs through polyclonal adaptation of drug-sensitive clones, despite the presence of rare subclones with known, pre-existing ARSI resistance. Conversely, in an experimental setting designed to mimic minimal residual disease, resistance occurs through outgrowth of pre-existing resistant clones and not by adaptation. Despite these different evolutionary paths, the underlying mechanisms responsible for resistance are shared across the two evolutionary paths. Furthermore, mixing experiments reveal that the evolutionary path to adaptive resistance requires cooperativity between subclones. Thus, despite the presence of pre-existing ARSI-resistant subclones, acquired resistance in established tumors occurs primarily through cooperative, polyclonal adaptation of drug-sensitive cells. This tumor ecosystem model of resistance has new implications for developing effective combination therapy.
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Bernal A, Bechler AJ, Mohan K, Rizzino A, Mathew G. The Current Therapeutic Landscape for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:351. [PMID: 38543137 PMCID: PMC10974045 DOI: 10.3390/ph17030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2024, there will be an estimated 1,466,718 cases of prostate cancer (PC) diagnosed globally, of which 299,010 cases are estimated to be from the US. The typical clinical approach for PC involves routine screening, diagnosis, and standard lines of treatment. However, not all patients respond to therapy and are subsequently diagnosed with treatment emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). There are currently no approved treatments for this form of aggressive PC. In this review, a compilation of the clinical trials regimen to treat late-stage NEPC using novel targets and/or a combination approach is presented. The novel targets assessed include DLL3, EZH2, B7-H3, Aurora-kinase-A (AURKA), receptor tyrosine kinases, PD-L1, and PD-1. Among these, the trials administering drugs Alisertib or Cabozantinib, which target AURKA or receptor tyrosine kinases, respectively, appear to have promising results. The least effective trials appear to be ones that target the immune checkpoint pathways PD-1/PD-L1. Many promising clinical trials are currently in progress. Consequently, the landscape of successful treatment regimens for NEPC is extremely limited. These trial results and the literature on the topic emphasize the need for new preventative measures, diagnostics, disease specific biomarkers, and a thorough clinical understanding of NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Bernal
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA; (A.B.); (A.J.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Alivia Jane Bechler
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA; (A.B.); (A.J.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Kabhilan Mohan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA; (A.B.); (A.J.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Angie Rizzino
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA; (A.B.); (A.J.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA
| | - Grinu Mathew
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA; (A.B.); (A.J.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68106, USA
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Venkadakrishnan VB, Presser AG, Singh R, Booker MA, Traphagen NA, Weng K, Voss NC, Mahadevan NR, Mizuno K, Puca L, Idahor O, Ku SY, Bakht MK, Borah AA, Herbert ZT, Tolstorukov MY, Barbie DA, Rickman DS, Brown M, Beltran H. Lineage-specific canonical and non-canonical activity of EZH2 in advanced prostate cancer subtypes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3935288. [PMID: 38405800 PMCID: PMC10889062 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3935288/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase and emerging therapeutic target that is overexpressed in most castration-resistant prostate cancers and implicated as a driver of disease progression and resistance to hormonal therapies. Here we define the lineage-specific action and differential activity of EZH2 in both prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) subtypes of advanced prostate cancer to better understand the role of EZH2 in modulating differentiation, lineage plasticity, and to identify mediators of response and resistance to EZH2 inhibitor therapy. Mechanistically, EZH2 modulates bivalent genes that results in upregulation of NEPC-associated transcriptional drivers (e.g., ASCL1) and neuronal gene programs, and leads to forward differentiation after targeting EZH2 in NEPC. Subtype-specific downstream effects of EZH2 inhibition on cell cycle genes support the potential rationale for co-targeting cyclin/CDK to overcome resistance to EZH2 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Loredana Puca
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine
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Uehara R, Obinata D, Hashimoto S, Nakahara K, Uchida H, Yoshizawa T, Mochida J, Yamaguchi K, Sakaguchi M, Ozawa Y, Mori F, Miura K, Ishige T, Masuda S, Nakayama T, Takahashi S. Brain metastasis in a patient with BRCA2-mutated treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma and long-term response to radiotherapy and Olaparib: A case report and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37371. [PMID: 38428891 PMCID: PMC10906585 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A new subtype of prostate cancer called treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma (t-NEPC) was added to the revised World Health Organization classification of prostate cancer in 2022. t-NEPC cases are increasing, and there is no established standard treatment. METHODS A 49-year-old male patient was referred to our department for dysuria. A rectal examination and a prostate biopsy revealed stony hardness and prostate adenocarcinoma, respectively. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of multiple bone and lymph node metastases. The patient was started on upfront treatment with androgen deprivation therapy and an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, which resulted in a significant (>90%) decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The patient experienced postrenal failure 6 months later, attributable to local disease progression. Concurrently, there was an elevation in neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and an enlargement of pelvic lymph node metastases, without PSA progression. RESULTS Biopsy specimen for cancer genome profiling revealed deletion of BRCA 2 and PTEN, AR amplification, and the presence of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene. Based on increased NSE and BRCA2 mutations, a diagnosis of t-NEPC with BRCA2 mutation was eventually made. The patient received docetaxel chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy. Subsequently, he was treated with olaparib. His NSE levels decreased, and he achieved a complete response (CR). However, 18 months following the olaparib administration, brain metastases appeared despite the absence of pelvic tumor relapse, and the patient's PSA levels remained low. Consequently, the patient underwent resection of the brain metastases using gamma knife and whole-brain radiotherapy but died approximately 3 months later. CONCLUSION SUBSECTIONS Platinum-based chemotherapy is often administered for the treatment of t-NEPC, but there are few reports on the effectiveness of olaparib in patients with BRCA2 mutations. In a literature review, this case demonstrated the longest duration of effectiveness with olaparib alone without platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, the occurrence of relatively rare, fatal brain metastases in prostate cancer after a long period of CR suggests the necessity of regular brain imaging examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rio Uehara
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Obinata
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sho Hashimoto
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Nakahara
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Uchida
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junichi Mochida
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenya Yamaguchi
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masakuni Sakaguchi
- Department of Radiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshinari Ozawa
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumi Mori
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Miura
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ishige
- Division of Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinobu Masuda
- Division of Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakayama
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Gopalan A. Treatment-related Neuroendocrine Prostate Carcinoma-Diagnostic and Molecular Correlates. Adv Anat Pathol 2024; 31:70-79. [PMID: 38223983 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate cancer is a distinctive category of prostate cancer that arises after intensive suppression of the androgen receptor by next-generation therapeutic inhibition of androgen receptor signaling. The biological processes that set in motion the series of events resulting in transformation of adenocarcinoma to neuroendocrine carcinoma include genomic (loss of tumor suppressors TP53 and RB1, amplification of oncogenes N-MYC and Aurora Kinase A, dysregulation of transcription factors SOX2, achaete-scute-homolog 1, and others) as well as epigenomic (DNA methylation, EZH2 overexpression, and others). Pathologic diagnosis is key to effective therapy for this disease, and this is aided by localizing metastatic lesions for biopsy using radioligand imaging in the appropriate clinical context. As our understanding of biology evolves, there has been increased morphologic recognition and characterization of tumor phenotypes that are present in this advanced post-treatment setting. New and promising biomarkers (delta-like ligand 3 and others) have been discovered, which opens up novel therapeutic avenues including immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates for this lethal disease with currently limited treatment options.
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Bhat GR, Sethi I, Sadida HQ, Rah B, Mir R, Algehainy N, Albalawi IA, Masoodi T, Subbaraj GK, Jamal F, Singh M, Kumar R, Macha MA, Uddin S, Akil ASAS, Haris M, Bhat AA. Cancer cell plasticity: from cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:197-228. [PMID: 38329598 PMCID: PMC11016008 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10172-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease displaying a variety of cell states and phenotypes. This diversity, known as cancer cell plasticity, confers cancer cells the ability to change in response to their environment, leading to increased tumor diversity and drug resistance. This review explores the intricate landscape of cancer cell plasticity, offering a deep dive into the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon. Cancer cell plasticity is intertwined with processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the acquisition of stem cell-like features. These processes are pivotal in the development and progression of tumors, contributing to the multifaceted nature of cancer and the challenges associated with its treatment. Despite significant advancements in targeted therapies, cancer cell adaptability and subsequent therapy-induced resistance remain persistent obstacles in achieving consistent, successful cancer treatment outcomes. Our review delves into the array of mechanisms cancer cells exploit to maintain plasticity, including epigenetic modifications, alterations in signaling pathways, and environmental interactions. We discuss strategies to counteract cancer cell plasticity, such as targeting specific cellular pathways and employing combination therapies. These strategies promise to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments and mitigate therapy resistance. In conclusion, this review offers a holistic, detailed exploration of cancer cell plasticity, aiming to bolster the understanding and approach toward tackling the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. As articulated in this review, the delineation of cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance seeks to contribute substantially to the progress in cancer therapeutics and the advancement of precision medicine, ultimately enhancing the prospects for effective cancer treatment and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gh Rasool Bhat
- Advanced Centre for Human Genetics, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Itty Sethi
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Hana Q Sadida
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bilal Rah
- Iron Biology Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Science, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Chair for Biomedical Research, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naseh Algehainy
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Chair for Biomedical Research, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Farrukh Jamal
- Dr. Rammanohar, Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, India
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology (Lab.), Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr. BRAIRCH, All India, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Laboratory Animal Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ammira S Al-Shabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory Animal Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
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Liu S, Chai T, Garcia-Marques F, Yin Q, Hsu EC, Shen M, Shaw Toland AM, Bermudez A, Hartono AB, Massey CF, Lee CS, Zheng L, Baron M, Denning CJ, Aslan M, Nguyen HM, Nolley R, Zoubeidi A, Das M, Kunder CA, Howitt BE, Soh HT, Weissman IL, Liss MA, Chin AI, Brooks JD, Corey E, Pitteri SJ, Huang J, Stoyanova T. UCHL1 is a potential molecular indicator and therapeutic target for neuroendocrine carcinomas. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101381. [PMID: 38244540 PMCID: PMC10897521 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101381] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine carcinomas, such as neuroendocrine prostate cancer and small-cell lung cancer, commonly have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We report that ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), a deubiquitinating enzyme, is elevated in tissues and plasma from patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas. Loss of UCHL1 decreases tumor growth and inhibits metastasis of these malignancies. UCHL1 maintains neuroendocrine differentiation and promotes cancer progression by regulating nucleoporin, POM121, and p53. UCHL1 binds, deubiquitinates, and stabilizes POM121 to regulate POM121-associated nuclear transport of E2F1 and c-MYC. Treatment with the UCHL1 inhibitor LDN-57444 slows tumor growth and metastasis across neuroendocrine carcinomas. The combination of UCHL1 inhibitors with cisplatin, the standard of care used for neuroendocrine carcinomas, significantly delays tumor growth in pre-clinical settings. Our study reveals mechanisms of UCHL1 function in regulating the progression of neuroendocrine carcinomas and identifies UCHL1 as a therapeutic target and potential molecular indicator for diagnosing and monitoring treatment responses in these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqin Liu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Timothy Chai
- Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Qingqing Yin
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - En-Chi Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Shen
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - Abel Bermudez
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alifiani B Hartono
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher F Massey
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chung S Lee
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liwei Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Maya Baron
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Caden J Denning
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Merve Aslan
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Holly M Nguyen
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rosalie Nolley
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Amina Zoubeidi
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Millie Das
- Department of Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Brooke E Howitt
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - H Tom Soh
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Irving L Weissman
- Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Liss
- Department of Urology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Arnold I Chin
- Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James D Brooks
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sharon J Pitteri
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tanya Stoyanova
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Fedele M, Cerchia L, Battista S. Subtype Transdifferentiation in Human Cancer: The Power of Tissue Plasticity in Tumor Progression. Cells 2024; 13:350. [PMID: 38391963 PMCID: PMC10887430 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The classification of tumors into subtypes, characterized by phenotypes determined by specific differentiation pathways, aids diagnosis and directs therapy towards targeted approaches. However, with the advent and explosion of next-generation sequencing, cancer phenotypes are turning out to be far more heterogenous than initially thought, and the classification is continually being updated to include more subtypes. Tumors are indeed highly dynamic, and they can evolve and undergo various changes in their characteristics during disease progression. The picture becomes even more complex when the tumor responds to a therapy. In all these cases, cancer cells acquire the ability to transdifferentiate, changing subtype, and adapt to changing microenvironments. These modifications affect the tumor's growth rate, invasiveness, response to treatment, and overall clinical behavior. Studying tumor subtype transitions is crucial for understanding tumor evolution, predicting disease outcomes, and developing personalized treatment strategies. We discuss this emerging hallmark of cancer and the molecular mechanisms involved at the crossroads between tumor cells and their microenvironment, focusing on four different human cancers in which tissue plasticity causes a subtype switch: breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Fedele
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “G. Salvatore” (IEOS), National Research Council—CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; (L.C.); (S.B.)
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Kouroukli O, Bravou V, Giannitsas K, Tzelepi V. Tissue-Based Diagnostic Biomarkers of Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:805. [PMID: 38398199 PMCID: PMC10887410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is a common malignancy among elderly men, characterized by great heterogeneity in its clinical course, ranging from an indolent to a highly aggressive disease. The aggressive variant of prostate cancer (AVPC) clinically shows an atypical pattern of disease progression, similar to that of small cell PC (SCPC), and also shares the chemo-responsiveness of SCPC. The term AVPC does not describe a specific histologic subtype of PC but rather the group of tumors that, irrespective of morphology, show an aggressive clinical course, dictated by androgen receptor (AR) indifference. AR indifference represents an adaptive response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), driven by epithelial plasticity, an inherent ability of tumor cells to adapt to their environment by changing their phenotypic characteristics in a bi-directional way. The molecular profile of AVPC entails combined alterations in the tumor suppressor genes retinoblastoma protein 1 (RB1), tumor protein 53 (TP53), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). The understanding of the biologic heterogeneity of castration-resistant PC (CRPC) and the need to identify the subset of patients that would potentially benefit from specific therapies necessitate the development of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. This review aims to discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms of AVPC development and the potential use of emerging tissue-based biomarkers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Kouroukli
- Department of Pathology, Evaggelismos General Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Bravou
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | | | - Vasiliki Tzelepi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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Wise DR, Pachynski RK, Denmeade SR, Aggarwal RR, Deng J, Febles VA, Balar AV, Economides MP, Loomis C, Selvaraj S, Haas M, Kagey MH, Newman W, Baum J, Troxel AB, Griglun S, Leis D, Yang N, Aranchiy V, Machado S, Waalkes E, Gargano G, Soamchand N, Puranik A, Chattopadhyay P, Fedal E, Deng FM, Ren Q, Chiriboga L, Melamed J, Sirard CA, Wong KK. A Phase 1/2 multicenter trial of DKN-01 as monotherapy or in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2024:10.1038/s41391-024-00798-z. [PMID: 38341461 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-024-00798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is a Wingless-related integrate site (Wnt) signaling modulator that is upregulated in prostate cancers (PCa) with low androgen receptor expression. DKN-01, an IgG4 that neutralizes DKK1, delays PCa growth in pre-clinical DKK1-expressing models. These data provided the rationale for a clinical trial testing DKN-01 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC). METHODS This was an investigator-initiated parallel-arm phase 1/2 clinical trial testing DKN-01 alone (monotherapy) or in combination with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (combination) for men with mCRPC who progressed on ≥1 AR signaling inhibitors. DKK1 status was determined by RNA in-situ expression. The primary endpoint of the phase 1 dose escalation cohorts was the determination of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary endpoint of the phase 2 expansion cohorts was objective response rate by iRECIST criteria in patients treated with the combination. RESULTS 18 pts were enrolled into the study-10 patients in the monotherapy cohorts and 8 patients in the combination cohorts. No DLTs were observed and DKN-01 600 mg was determined as the RP2D. A best overall response of stable disease occurred in two out of seven (29%) evaluable patients in the monotherapy cohort. In the combination cohort, five out of seven (71%) evaluable patients had a partial response (PR). A median rPFS of 5.7 months was observed in the combination cohort. In the combination cohort, the median tumoral DKK1 expression H-score was 0.75 and the rPFS observed was similar between patients with DKK1 H-score ≥1 versus H-score = 0. CONCLUSION DKN-01 600 mg was well tolerated. DKK1 blockade has modest anti-tumor activity as a monotherapy for mCRPC. Anti-tumor activity was observed in the combination cohorts, but the response duration was limited. DKK1 expression in the majority of mCRPC is low and did not clearly correlate with anti-tumor activity of DKN-01 plus docetaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Wise
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Russell K Pachynski
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samuel R Denmeade
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rahul R Aggarwal
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jiehui Deng
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor Adorno Febles
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- New York Harbor Veterans Healthcare System, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arjun V Balar
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minas P Economides
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia Loomis
- Department of Pathology and DART Experimental Pathology Research Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shanmugapriya Selvaraj
- Department of Pathology and DART Experimental Pathology Research Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jason Baum
- Leap Therapeutics, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrea B Troxel
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Griglun
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dayna Leis
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nina Yang
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Viktoriya Aranchiy
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sabrina Machado
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erika Waalkes
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle Gargano
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadia Soamchand
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amrutesh Puranik
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Laboratory, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Pratip Chattopadhyay
- Precision Immunology Laboratory, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ezeddin Fedal
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fang-Ming Deng
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qinghu Ren
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luis Chiriboga
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Melamed
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Department of Medicine, Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
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50
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Saini S, Sreekumar A, Nathani S, Asante DM, Simmons MN. A novel exosome based therapeutic intervention against neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2816. [PMID: 38307935 PMCID: PMC10837194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53269-9] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a highly lethal variant of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with poor survival rates. Current treatment options for NEPC are limited to highly toxic platinum drugs highlighting the urgent need for new therapies. This study aimed to develop a novel therapeutic approach using engineered exosomes against NEPC. Exosomes were modified to target CEACAM5, an NEPC surface antigen, by attaching CEACAM5 antibodies to HEK293T exosomes. These exosomes were loaded with drugs inhibiting EZH2 and the androgen receptor (AR) as recent research shows a persistent role of AR in NEPC wherein it plays a concerted role with EZH2 in driving neuronal gene programs. In vitro experiments with NEPC cell lines demonstrated that CEACAM5-targeted exosomes were specifically taken up by NEPC cells, leading to reduced cellular viability and decreased expression of neuronal markers. Further in vivo tests using a NEPC patient-derived xenograft model (LuCaP145.1) showed significant tumor regression in mice treated with engineered exosomes compared to control mice receiving IgG-labeled exosomes. These results suggest that CEACAM5-engineered exosomes hold promise as a targeted therapy for NEPC. Importantly, our exosome engineering strategy is versatile and can be adapted to target various surface antigens in prostate cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharanjot Saini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
- Department of Urology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
| | - Amritha Sreekumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Sandip Nathani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Diana M Asante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
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