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Thankan RS, Thomas E, Purushottamachar P, Weber DJ, Ramamurthy VP, Huang W, Kane MA, Njar VCO. VNLG-152R and its deuterated analogs potently inhibit/repress triple/quadruple negative breast cancer of diverse racial origins in vitro and in vivo by upregulating E3 Ligase Synoviolin 1 (SYVN1) and inducing proteasomal degradation of MNK1/2. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1240996. [PMID: 37766871 PMCID: PMC10520556 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1240996] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its recently identified subtype, quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC), collectively account for approximately 13% of reported breast cancer cases in the United States. These aggressive forms of breast cancer are associated with poor prognoses, limited treatment options, and lower overall survival rates. In previous studies, our research demonstrated that VNLG-152R exhibits inhibitory effects on TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo and the deuterated analogs were more potent inhibitors of TNBC cells in vitro. Building upon these findings, our current study delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying this inhibitory action. Through transcriptome and proteome analyses, we discovered that VNLG-152R upregulates the expression of E3 ligase Synoviolin 1 (SYVN1), also called 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl reductase degradation (HRD1) in TNBC cells. Moreover, we provide genetic and pharmacological evidence to demonstrate that SYVN1 mediates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of MNK1/2, the only known kinases responsible for phosphorylating eIF4E. Phosphorylation of eIF4E being a rate-limiting step in the formation of the eIF4F translation initiation complex, the degradation of MNK1/2 by VNLG-152R and its analogs impedes dysregulated translation in TNBC cells, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth. Importantly, our findings were validated in vivo using TNBC xenograft models derived from MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-453 cell lines, representing different racial origins and genetic backgrounds. These xenograft models, which encompass TNBCs with varying androgen receptor (AR) expression levels, were effectively inhibited by oral administration of VNLG-152R and its deuterated analogs in NRG mice. Importantly, in direct comparison, our compounds are more effective than enzalutamide and docetaxel in achieving tumor growth inhibition/repression in the AR+ MDA-MD-453 xenograft model in mice. Collectively, our study sheds light on the involvement of SYVN1 E3 ligase in the VNLG-152R-induced degradation of MNK1/2 and the therapeutic potential of VNLG-152R and its more potent deuterated analogs as promising agents for the treatment of TNBC across diverse patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Retheesh S. Thankan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David J. Weber
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Weiliang Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maureen A. Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Vincent C. O. Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Baltimore, MD, United States
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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2
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Purushottamachar P, Thomas E, Thankan RS, Njar VCO. Novel deuterated Mnk1/2 protein degrader VNLG-152R analogs: Synthesis, In vitro Anti-TNBC activities and pharmacokinetics in mice. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 238:114441. [PMID: 35617854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A new and improved synthesis of lead Mnk1/2 protein degrader, VNLG-152R, 4-(±)-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-(E)-retinamide (1) has been developed from commercially available 4-oxo-ATRA (8). This procedure was also utilized to synthesize the seven possible deuterated analogs of compound 1 (11-17). The deuterated analogs were either better or equipotent to 1 in in vitro antiproliferative activities against MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 human TNBC cells. The Mnk1/2 degraders were equally effective as a standard TNBC therapy (paclitaxel). Importantly, the expression of Mnk1, peIF4E and their associated downstream targets, including cyclin D1 and Bcl2, were strongly decreased in compound 1/analogs (11-17)-treated TNBC cells signifying inhibition of Mnk1-eIF4E signaling. More importantly, we showed that deuterated analogs, 12, 16 and 17 possess improved pharmacokinetics parameters following oral administration to CD-1 female mice compared to the parent non-deuterated compound 1, thus addressing the rapid clearance (short half-life and short residence time) pharmacokinetic inadequacy of compound 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Retheesh S Thankan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Flavocure Biotech, 701 E. Pratt Street, Suite 2033, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 875 Hollins Street, Suite 102D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 875 Hollins Street, Suite 102D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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3
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Synthetic Retinoids as Potential Therapeutics in Prostate Cancer-An Update of the Last Decade of Research: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910537. [PMID: 34638876 PMCID: PMC8508817 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common tumor in males. The search for appropriate therapeutic options against advanced PC has been in process for several decades. Especially after cessation of the effectiveness of hormonal therapy (i.e., emergence of castration-resistant PC), PC management options have become scarce and the prognosis is poor. To overcome this stage of disease, an array of natural and synthetic substances underwent investigation. An interesting and promising class of compounds constitutes the derivatives of natural retinoids. Synthesized on the basis of the structure of retinoic acid, they present unique and remarkable properties that warrant their investigation as antitumor drugs. However, there is no up-to-date compilation that consecutively summarizes the current state of knowledge about synthetic retinoids with regard to PC. Therefore, in this review, we present the results of the experimental studies on synthetic retinoids conducted within the last decade. Our primary aim is to highlight the molecular targets of these compounds and to identify their potential promise in the treatment of PC.
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Regulation of mRNA Translation by Hormone Receptors in Breast and Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133254. [PMID: 34209750 PMCID: PMC8268847 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The estrogen and androgen receptors (ER, AR) are key oncogenic drivers and therapeutic targets in breast and prostate cancer, respectively. These receptors bind to DNA and regulate gene expression but emerging evidence indicates that they also play important roles in controlling the process of mRNA translation, which dictates cellular protein production. Here, we review the mechanisms by which abnormal activities of ER and AR can dysregulate mRNA translation in breast and prostate cancer cells. Specifically, we explore how the intricate cellular signalling pathways that keep mRNA translation in check are perturbed by aberrant ER and AR signalling, which can lead to enhanced cancer cell growth. We also discuss the potential of targeting mRNA translation as a strategy to treat patients with breast and prostate cancer. Abstract Breast and prostate cancer are the second and third leading causes of death amongst all cancer types, respectively. Pathogenesis of these malignancies is characterised by dysregulation of sex hormone signalling pathways, mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (ER) in breast cancer and androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer. ER and AR are transcription factors whose aberrant function drives oncogenic transcriptional programs to promote cancer growth and progression. While ER/AR are known to stimulate cell growth and survival by modulating gene transcription, emerging findings indicate that their effects in neoplasia are also mediated by dysregulation of protein synthesis (i.e., mRNA translation). This suggests that ER/AR can coordinately perturb both transcriptional and translational programs, resulting in the establishment of proteomes that promote malignancy. In this review, we will discuss relatively understudied aspects of ER and AR activity in regulating protein synthesis as well as the potential of targeting mRNA translation in breast and prostate cancer.
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Jin X, Yu R, Wang X, Proud CG, Jiang T. Progress in developing MNK inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 219:113420. [PMID: 33892273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The MNKs (mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting protein kinases) phosphorylate eIF4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4 E) at serine 209; eIF4E plays an important role in the translation of cytoplasmic mRNAs, all of which possess a 5' 'cap' structure to which eIF4E binds. Elevated levels of eIF4E, p-eIF4E and/or the MNK protein kinases have been found in many types of cancer, including solid tumors and leukemia. MNKs also play a role in metabolic disease. Regulation of the activities of MNKs (MNK1 and MNK2), control the phosphorylation of eIF4E, which in turn has a close relationship with the processes of tumor development, cell migration and invasion, and energy metabolism. MNK knock-out mice display no adverse effects on normal cells or phenotypes suggesting that MNK may be a potentially safe targets for the treatment of various cancers. Several MNK inhibitors or 'degraders' have been identified. Initially, some of the inhibitors were developed from natural products or based on other protein kinase inhibitors which inhibit multiple kinases. Subsequently, more potent and selective inhibitors for MNK1/2 have been designed and synthesized. Currently, three inhibitors (BAY1143269, eFT508 and ETC-206) are in various stages of clinical trials for the treatment of solid cancers or leukemia, either alone or combined with inhibitors of other protein kinase. In this review, we summarize the diverse MNK inhibitors that have been reported in patents and other literature, including those with activities in vitro and/or in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Jin
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China and Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Rilei Yu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China and Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuemin Wang
- Lifelong Health, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA5000, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Christopher G Proud
- Lifelong Health, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA5000, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Tao Jiang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China and Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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6
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Yang X, Zhong W, Cao R. Phosphorylation of the mRNA cap-binding protein eIF4E and cancer. Cell Signal 2020; 73:109689. [PMID: 32535199 PMCID: PMC8049097 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulated protein synthesis is frequently involved in oncogenesis and cancer progression. Translation initiation is thought to be the rate-limiting step in protein synthesis, and the mRNA 5' cap-binding protein eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is a pivotal factor that initiates translation. The activities of eIF4E are regulated at multiple levels, one of which is through its phosphorylation at Serine 209 by the mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinases (MNKs, including MNK1 and MNK2). Benefiting from novel mouse genetic tools and pharmacological MNK inhibitors, our understanding of a role for eIF4E phosphorylation in tumor biology and cancer therapy has greatly evolved in recent years. Importantly, recent studies have found that the level of eIF4E phosphorylation is frequently upregulated in a wide variety of human cancer types, and phosphorylation of eIF4E drives a number of important processes in cancer biology, including cell transformation, proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and angiogenesis. The MNK-eIF4E axis is being assessed as a therapeutic target either alone or in combination with other therapies in different cancer models. As novel MNK inhibitors are being developed, experimental studies bring new hope to cure human cancers that are not responsive to traditional therapies. Herein we review recent progress on our understanding of a mechanistic role for phosphorylation of eIF4E in cancer biology and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Yang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
| | - Wu Zhong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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7
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Pinto-Díez C, Ferreras-Martín R, Carrión-Marchante R, González VM, Martín ME. Deeping in the Role of the MAP-Kinases Interacting Kinases (MNKs) in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082967. [PMID: 32340135 PMCID: PMC7215568 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinases (MNKs) are involved in oncogenic transformation and can promote metastasis and tumor progression. In human cells, there are four MNKs isoforms (MNK1a/b and MNK2a/b), derived from two genes by alternative splicing. These kinases play an important role controlling the expression of specific proteins involved in cell cycle, cell survival and cell motility via eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) regulation, but also through other substrates such as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor and Sprouty 2. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of MNK in human cancers, describing the studies conducted to date to elucidate the mechanism involved in the action of MNKs, as well as the development of MNK inhibitors in different hematological cancers and solid tumors.
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8
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Lu C, Brown LC, Antonarakis ES, Armstrong AJ, Luo J. Androgen receptor variant-driven prostate cancer II: advances in laboratory investigations. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2020; 23:381-397. [PMID: 32139878 PMCID: PMC7725416 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-020-0217-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is a key prostate cancer drug target.
Suppression of AR signaling mediated by the full-length AR (AR-FL) is the
therapeutic goal of all existing AR-directed therapies. AR-targeting agents
impart therapeutic benefit, but lead to AR aberrations that underlie disease
progression and therapeutic resistance. Among the AR aberrations specific to
castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), AR variants (AR-Vs) have
emerged as important indicators of disease progression and therapeutic
resistance. Methods: We conducted a systemic review of the literature focusing on recent
laboratory studies on AR-Vs following our last review article published in
2016. Topics ranged from measurement and detection, molecular origin,
regulation, genomic function, and preclinical therapeutic targeting of
AR-Vs. We provide expert opinions and perspectives on these topics. Results: Transcript sequences for 22 AR-Vs have been reported in the
literature. Different AR-Vs may arise through different mechanisms, and can
be regulated by splicing factors and dictated by genomic rearrangements, but
a low-androgen environment is a prerequisite for generation of AR-Vs. The
unique transcript structures allowed development of in-situ and in-solution
measurement and detection methods, including mRNA and protein detection, in
both tissue and blood specimens. AR variant-7 (AR-V7) remains the main
measurement target and the most extensively characterized AR-V. Although
AR-V7 co-exists with AR-FL, genomic functions mediated by AR-V7 do not
require the presence of AR-FL. The distinct cistromes and transcriptional
programs directed by AR-V7 and their co-regulators are consistent with
genomic features of progressive disease in a low-androgen environment.
Preclinical development of AR-V-directed agents currently focuses on
suppression of mRNA expression and protein degradation as well as targeting
of the amino-terminal domain. Conclusions: Current literature continues to support AR-Vs as biomarkers and
therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. Laboratory investigations reveal
both challenges and opportunities in targeting AR-Vs to overcome resistance
to current AR-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxue Lu
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Landon C Brown
- Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Divisions of Medical Oncology and Urology, Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emmanuel S Antonarakis
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Departments of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew J Armstrong
- Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Divisions of Medical Oncology and Urology, Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jun Luo
- Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Departments of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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9
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Galeterone and The Next Generation Galeterone Analogs, VNPP414 and VNPP433-3β Exert Potent Therapeutic Effects in Castration-/Drug-Resistant Prostate Cancer Preclinical Models In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111637. [PMID: 31653008 PMCID: PMC6895912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
These studies compared the efficacies of our clinical agent galeterone (Gal) and the FDA-approved prostate cancer drug, enzalutamide (ENZ) with two lead next generation galeterone analogs (NGGAs), VNPP414 and VNPP433-3β, using prostate cancer (PC) in vitro and in vivo models. Antitumor activities of orally administered agents were also assessed in CWR22Rv1 tumor-bearing mice. We demonstrated that Gal and NGGAs degraded AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2; blocked cell cycle progression and proliferation of human PC cells; induced apoptosis; inhibited cell migration, invasion, and putative stem cell markers; and reversed the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, Gal/NGGAs (alone or in combination) also inhibited the growth of ENZ-, docetaxel-, and mitoxantrone-resistant human PC cell lines. The NGGAs exhibited improved pharmacokinetic profiles over Gal in mice. Importantly, in vivo testing showed that VNPP433-3β (at 7.53-fold lower equimolar dose than Gal) markedly suppressed (84% vs. Gal, 47%; p < 0.01) the growth of castration-resistant PC (CRPC) CWR22Rv1 xenograft tumors, with no apparent host toxicity. ENZ was ineffective in this CRPC xenograft model. In summary, our findings show that targeting AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2 for degradation represents an effective therapeutic strategy for PC/CRPC treatment and supports further development of VNPP433-3β towards clinical investigation.
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10
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Ramalingam S, Ramamurthy VP, Gediya LK, Murigi FN, Purushottamachar P, Huang W, Choi EY, Zhang Y, Vasaitis TS, Kane MA, Lapidus RG, Njar VCO. The Novel Mnk1/2 Degrader and Apoptosis Inducer VNLG-152 Potently Inhibits TNBC Tumor Growth and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030299. [PMID: 30832411 PMCID: PMC6468747 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are no effective therapies for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and highly metastatic disease. Activation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinases 1 and 2 (Mnk1/2) play a critical role in the development, progression and metastasis of TNBC. Herein, we undertook a comprehensive study to evaluate the activity of a first-in-class Mnk1/2 protein degraders, racemic VNLG-152R and its two enantiomers (VNLG-152E1 and VNLG-152E2) in in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC. These studies enabled us to identify racemic VNLG-152R as the most efficacious Mnk1/2 degrader, superior to its pure enantiomers. By targeting Mnk1/2 protein degradation (activity), VNLG-152R potently inhibited both Mnk-eIF4E and mTORC1 signaling pathways and strongly regulated downstream factors involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines secretion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Most importantly, orally bioavailable VNLG-152R exhibited remarkable antitumor (91 to 100% growth inhibition) and antimetastatic (~80% inhibition) activities against cell line and patient-derived TNBC xenograft models, with no apparent host toxicity. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that targeting Mnk-eIF4E/mTORC1 signaling with a potent Mnk1/2 degrader, VNLG-152R, is a novel therapeutic strategy that can be developed as monotherapy for the effective treatment of patients with primary/metastatic TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilmurugan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vidya P Ramamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Lalji K Gediya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Francis N Murigi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Weiliang Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
| | - Eun Yong Choi
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Yuji Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Tadas S Vasaitis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 207 Somerset Hall, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
| | - Maureen A Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
| | - Rena G Lapidus
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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11
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Kita Y, Goto T, Akamatsu S, Yamasaki T, Inoue T, Ogawa O, Kobayashi T. Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Refractory to Second-Generation Androgen Receptor Axis-Targeted Agents: Opportunities and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10100345. [PMID: 30248934 PMCID: PMC6210307 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10100345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Second-generation androgen receptor axis-targeted (ARAT) agents, namely abiraterone and enzalutamide, enable stronger blockade of the androgen receptor (AR) axis and longer survival of men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, the extent of the improved survival remains insufficient and the majority of patients eventually develop resistance to these novel agents. Some patients develop resistance against ARAT treatment through mechanisms termed “complete AR independence” or “AR indifference”, and no longer require activation of the AR axis. However, a considerable proportion of CRPC patients remain persistently dependent on AR or its downstream signaling pathways. Ligand-independent activation of the AR, an AR axis-dependent mechanism, is mediated by truncated forms of ARs that lack the ligand-binding domain (LBD), arising as products of AR splicing variants or nonsense mutations of AR. Post-translational modifications of ARs can also contribute to ligand-independent transactivation of the AR. Other mechanisms for AR axis activation are mediated by pathways that bypass the AR. Recent studies revealed that the glucocorticoid receptor can upregulate a similar transcription program to that of the AR, thus bypassing the AR. ARAT agents are essentially ineffective for CRPC driven by these AR-independent mechanisms. This review article describes recent efforts to overcome these refractory machineries for the development of next-generation AR axis blockade in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kita
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Goto
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Shusuke Akamatsu
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Toshinari Yamasaki
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Inoue
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Osamu Ogawa
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Takashi Kobayashi
- Department of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
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12
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D'Abronzo LS, Ghosh PM. eIF4E Phosphorylation in Prostate Cancer. Neoplasia 2018; 20:563-573. [PMID: 29730477 PMCID: PMC5994774 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) progression involves a shift from endocrine to paracrine and eventually autocrine control resulting from alterations in molecular mechanisms in the cells. Deregulation of RNA translation is crucial for tumor cells to grow and proliferate; therefore, overactivation of the translation machinery is often observed in cancer. The two most important signal transduction pathways regulating PCa progression are PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/MAPK. These two pathways converge on the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) which binds to the protein scaffold eIF4G upon mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation and is phosphorylated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) interacting protein kinases (Mnk1/2). This review describes the role of eIF4E in mRNA translation initiation mediated by its binding to the methylated 5′ terminal structure (m7G-cap) of many mRNAs, and the ability of many tumor cells to bypass this mechanism. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are two of the most prevalent therapies used in patients with advanced PCa, and studies have implicated a role for eIF4E phosphorylation in promoting resistance to both these therapies. It appears that eIF4E phosphorylation enhances the rate of translation of oncogene mRNAs to increase tumorigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro S D'Abronzo
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA; Department of Urological Surgery, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA
| | - Paramita M Ghosh
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA; Department of Urological Surgery, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA.
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13
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Ramamurthy VP, Ramalingam S, Gediya LK, Njar VCO. The retinamide VNLG-152 inhibits f-AR/AR-V7 and MNK-eIF4E signaling pathways to suppress EMT and castration-resistant prostate cancer xenograft growth. FEBS J 2018; 285:1051-1063. [PMID: 29323792 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
VNLG-152 is a novel retinamide (NR) shown to suppress growth and progression of genetically diverse prostate cancer cells via inhibition of androgen receptor signaling and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) translational machinery. Herein, we report therapeutic effects of VNLG-152 on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) growth and metastatic phenotype in a CRPC tumor xenograft model. Administration of VNLG-152 significantly and dose-dependently suppressed the growth of aggressive CWR22Rv1 tumors by 63.4% and 76.3% at 10 and 20 mg·kg-1 bw, respectively (P < 0.0001), vs. vehicle with no host toxicity. Strikingly, the expression of full-length androgen receptor (f-AR)/androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7), mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinases 1 and 2 (MNK1/2), phosphorylated eIF4E and their associated target proteins, including prostate-specific antigen, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2, were strongly decreased in VNLG-152-treated tumors signifying inhibition of f-AR/AR-V7 and MNK-eIF4E signaling in VNLG-152-treated CWR22Rv1 tumors as observed in vitro. VNLG-152 also suppressed the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in CWR22Rv1 tumors as evidenced by repression of N-cadherin, β-catenin, claudin, Slug, Snail, Twist, vimentin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) with upsurge in E-cadherin. These results highlight the promising use of VNLG-152 in CRPC therapy and justify its further development towards clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya P Ramamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Senthilmurugan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lalji K Gediya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Chu J, Ramon Y Cajal S, Sonenberg N, Pelletier J. Eukaryotic initiation factor 4F-sidestepping resistance mechanisms arising from expression heterogeneity. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 48:89-96. [PMID: 29169064 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There is enormous diversity in the genetic makeup and gene expression profiles between and within tumors. This heterogeneity leads to phenotypic variation and is a major mechanism of resistance to molecular targeted therapies. Here we describe a conceptual framework for targeting eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F in cancer-an essential complex that drives and promotes multiple Cancer Hallmarks. The unique nature of eIF4F and its druggability bypasses several of the heterogeneity issues that plague molecular targeted drugs developed for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Chu
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Santiago Ramon Y Cajal
- Pathology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Spain
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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15
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D'Abronzo LS, Bose S, Crapuchettes ME, Beggs RE, Vinall RL, Tepper CG, Siddiqui S, Mudryj M, Melgoza FU, Durbin-Johnson BP, deVere White RW, Ghosh PM. The androgen receptor is a negative regulator of eIF4E phosphorylation at S209: implications for the use of mTOR inhibitors in advanced prostate cancer. Oncogene 2017; 36:6359-6373. [PMID: 28745319 PMCID: PMC5690844 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The anti-androgen bicalutamide is widely used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) in many countries, but its effect on castration resistant PCa (CRPC) is limited. We previously showed that resistance to bicalutamide results from activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Interestingly, clinical trials testing combinations of the mTOR inhibitor RAD001 with bicalutamide were effective in bicalutamide-naïve CRPC patients, but not in bicalutamide-pre-treated ones. Here we investigate causes for their difference in response. Evaluation of CRPC cell lines identified resistant vs sensitive in-vitro models, and revealed that increased eIF4E(S209) phosphorylation is associated with resistance to the combination. We confirmed using a human-derived tumor-xenograft mouse model that bicalutamide pre-treatment is associated with an increase in eIF4E(S209) phosphorylation. Thus, AR suppressed eIF4E phosphorylation, while the use of anti-androgens relieved this suppression, thereby triggering its increase. Additional investigation in human prostatectomy samples showed that increased eIF4E phosphorylation strongly correlated with the cell proliferation marker Ki67. SiRNA-mediated knock-down of eIF4E sensitized CRPC cells to RAD001+bicalutamide, while eIF4E overexpression induced resistance. Inhibition of eIF4E phosphorylation by treatment with CGP57380 (an inhibitor of MAPK interacting serine-threonine kinases Mnk1/2, the eIF4E upstream kinase) or inhibitors of ERK1/2, the upstream kinase regulating Mnk1/2, also sensitized CRPC cells to RAD001+bicalutamide. Examination of downstream targets of eIF4E-mediated translation, including survivin, demonstrated that eIF4E(S209) phosphorylation increased cap-independent translation whereas its inhibition restored cap-dependent translation which could be inhibited by mTOR inhibitors. Thus, our results demonstrate that while combinations of AR and mTOR inhibitors were effective in suppressing tumor growth by inhibiting both AR-induced transcription and mTOR-induced cap-dependent translation, pre-treatment with AR antagonists including bicalutamide increased eIF4E phosphorylation that induced resistance to combinations of AR and mTOR inhibitors by inducing cap-independent translation. We conclude that this resistance can be overcome by inhibiting eIF4E phosphorylation with Mnk1/2 or ERK1/2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S D'Abronzo
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - S Bose
- Department of Urology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - M E Crapuchettes
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - R E Beggs
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - R L Vinall
- Department of Urology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, CA, USA
| | - C G Tepper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - S Siddiqui
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - M Mudryj
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - F U Melgoza
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - B P Durbin-Johnson
- Department of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - R W deVere White
- Department of Urology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - P M Ghosh
- VA Northern California Health Care System, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Department of Urology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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16
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current overview will summarize some of the developments in the area of protein translation, including their relation to the therapeutic targeting of prostate cancer. RECENT FINDINGS Translational control, mediated by the rate-limiting eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), drives selective translation of several oncogenic proteins, thereby contributing to tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance in various cancers, including prostate cancer. As an essential regulatory hub, several oncogenic hyperactive signaling pathways appear to converge on eIF4E to promote tumorigenesis. Several approaches that target the eIF4E-dependent protein translation network are being actively studied, and it is likely that some may ultimately emerge as promising anticancer therapeutics. SUMMARY An array of inhibitors has shown promise in targeting specific components of the translational machinery in several preclinical models of prostate cancer. It is hoped that some of these approaches may ultimately have relevance in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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17
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Ramalingam S, Ramamurthy VP, Njar VCO. Dissecting major signaling pathways in prostate cancer development and progression: Mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 166:16-27. [PMID: 27481707 PMCID: PMC7371258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy and leading cause of cancer mortality in men. At the initial stages, prostate cancer is dependent upon androgens for their growth and hence effectively combated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, most patients eventually recur with an androgen deprivation-resistant phenotype, referred to as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), a more aggressive form for which there is no effective therapy presently available. The current review is an attempt to cover and establish an understanding of some major signaling pathways implicated in prostate cancer development and castration-resistance, besides addressing therapeutic strategies that targets the key signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilmurugan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA; Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA
| | - Vidya P Ramamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA; Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA; Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
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18
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Leung JK, Sadar MD. Non-Genomic Actions of the Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:2. [PMID: 28144231 PMCID: PMC5239799 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) is a validated drug target for prostate cancer based on its role in proliferation, survival, and metastases of prostate cancer cells. Unfortunately, despite recent improvements to androgen deprivation therapy and the advent of better antiandrogens with a superior affinity for the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD), most patients with recurrent disease will eventually develop lethal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Expression of constitutively active AR splice variants that lack the LBD contribute toward therapeutic resistance by bypassing androgen blockade and antiandrogens. In the canonical pathway, binding of androgen to AR LBD triggers the release of AR from molecular chaperones which enable conformational changes and protein-protein interactions to facilitate its nuclear translocation where it regulates the expression of target genes. However, preceding AR function in the nucleus, initial binding of androgen to AR LBD in the cytoplasm may already initiate signal transduction pathways to modulate cellular proliferation and migration. In this article, we review the significance of signal transduction pathways activated by rapid, non-genomic signaling of the AR during the progression to metastatic CRPC and put into perspective the implications for current and novel therapies that target different domains of AR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacky K. Leung
- Department of Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marianne D. Sadar
- Department of Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marianne D. Sadar,
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19
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Zhu L, Zhuang H, Wang H, Tan M, Schwab CL, Deng L, Gao J, Hao Y, Li X, Gao S, Liu J, Lin B. Overexpression of HE4 (human epididymis protein 4) enhances proliferation, invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:729-44. [PMID: 26575020 PMCID: PMC4808029 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) related with a role in ovarian cancer tumorigenesis while little is known about the molecular mechanism alteration by HE4 up regulation. Here we reported that overexpressed HE4 promoted ovarian cancer cells proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, human whole genome gene expression profile microarrays revealed that 231 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were altered in response to HE4, in which MAPK signaling, ECM receptor, cell cycle, steroid biosynthesis pathways were involved. The findings suggested that overexpressed HE4 played an important role in ovarian cancer progression and metastasis and that HE4 has the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liancheng Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Huiyu Zhuang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Mingzi Tan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Carlton L Schwab
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8063, USA
| | - Lu Deng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Yingying Hao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Song Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Bei Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
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20
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Han W, Ding Y, Xu Y, Pfister K, Zhu S, Warne B, Doyle M, Aikawa M, Amiri P, Appleton B, Stuart DD, Fanidi A, Shafer CM. Discovery of a Selective and Potent Inhibitor of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Interacting Kinases 1 and 2 (MNK1/2) Utilizing Structure-Based Drug Design. J Med Chem 2016; 59:3034-45. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wooseok Han
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Yu Ding
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Yongjin Xu
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Keith Pfister
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Shejin Zhu
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Bob Warne
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Mike Doyle
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Mina Aikawa
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Payman Amiri
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Brent Appleton
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Darrin D. Stuart
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Abdallah Fanidi
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Cynthia M. Shafer
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
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21
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Li X, Li T, Chen D, Zhang P, Song Y, Zhu H, Xiao Y, Xing Y. Overexpression of lysine-specific demethylase 1 promotes androgen-independent transition of human prostate cancer LNCaP cells through activation of the AR signaling pathway and suppression of the p53 signaling pathway. Oncol Rep 2015; 35:584-92. [PMID: 26534764 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is the first defined histone demethylase, and was found to be closely correlated with the development and progression of various types of cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). Previous research suggests that LSD1 is closely related with cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration and invasion in PCa. However, it remains to be elucidated whether LSD1 is correlated with androgen-independent (AI) transition of PCa under androgen-ablated conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of LSD1 expression with AI transition of human androgen-dependent PCa LNCaP cells. Our data showed that LSD1 was overexpressed in human PCa specimens and in AI PCa LNCaP-AI cells, which were established through a three-month continuous culture of LNCaP cells in androgen-deprived medium. Under androgen-deprived conditions, LNCaP-AI cells grew perfectly with less apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Overexpression of LSD1 protected the LNCaP cells from androgen deprivation-induced apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest, while knockdown of LSD1 drove LNCaP-AI cells into a higher rate of apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest. Furthermore, LSD1 was found to regulate the androgen receptor (AR) and p53 signaling pathways via demethylation, subsequently influencing apoptosis and cell cycle progression. These findings revealed that overexpression of LSD1 promoted AI transition of PCa LNCaP cells under androgen-ablated conditions via activation of the AR signaling pathway and suppression of the p53 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechao Li
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Urology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Dehong Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Xiangyang, Hubei 441021, P.R. China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yarong Song
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Hongxue Zhu
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yajun Xiao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yifei Xing
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
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22
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Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Lertpiriyapong K, Fitzgerald TL, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Rakus D, Gizak A, Terrian D, Steelman LS, McCubrey JA. Novel roles of androgen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, TP53, regulatory RNAs, NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in prostate cancer and prostate cancer stem cells. Adv Biol Regul 2015; 60:64-87. [PMID: 26525204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer in their lifetime. Over 250,000 men worldwide die annually due to complications from prostate cancer. While advancements in prostate cancer screening and therapies have helped in lowering this statistic, better tests and more effective therapies are still needed. This review will summarize the novel roles of the androgen receptor (AR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the EGFRvIII variant, TP53, long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRs), NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells (CSC) have on the diagnosis, development and treatment of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Chappell
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Kvin Lertpiriyapong
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Timothy L Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dariusz Rakus
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - David Terrian
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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