Abstract 2650: Targeting the DNA-binding domain of the androgen receptor in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Background: The androgen receptor (AR), which plays a major role in prostate cancer (PCa), consists of a C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD), a hinge domain, a DNA-binding domain (DBD), and an N-terminal domain (NTD). Current AR antagonists and AR signaling inhibitors (ASIs), used in androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and to prevent disease progression, often fail due to production of alternatively spliced AR variants (AR-Vs) that lack the LBD but retain the DBD, which is essential to AR transcriptional activity. This project examines a series of novel compounds designed to inhibit AR-DNA interaction and study how these compounds affect castration-resistant PCa (CRPC).

Methods: Compounds potentially targeting the DBD were used to predict direction and position of compounds when docked to the AR. MTT assays, flow cytometry, immunoblots, qRT-PCR, luciferase assay, and immunofluorescence were used to test compounds on AR and PCa. Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) tested potential binding of the compounds to the AR. Studies in intact mice were used to determine toxicity of the compounds and the maximum tolerated dose.

Results: Of 48 compounds synthesized, C15 had the highest and most consistent efficacy overall. C15 decreased metabolic activity in 22Rv1 and CWR-R1 cells that express AR-Vs and in C4 and C4-2 that do not express AR-Vs. Further, C15 had a reduced effect in AR-null PC3 cells and minimal effect in normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. In C4-2 and 22Rv1, C15 significantly reduced PSA mRNA and AR transcriptional activity, and in C4-2, C15 significantly reduced TMPRSS2 and Nrdp1 mRNA levels. C08 and C15 reduced pronase-induced AR proteolysis only when the AR DBD is present. Furthermore, C15 reduces AR binding at the PSA enhancer, but DHT stimulation may weaken this binding inhibition and reduction in AR transcriptional activity. However, combining C15 with an AR inhibitor targeting the LBD (enzalutamide, darolutamide, apalutamide) restores the full inhibitory potential and even reduces metabolic activity and AR transcriptional activity further than either drug alone in both C4-2 and 22Rv1s. No toxicity in intact mice was observed with C15 with the highest dose tested being 50 mg/kg.

Conclusion: Our preliminary data demonstrate that C15 directly binds to the DBD of the AR and potently inhibits CRPC cells, including those that express AR-Vs missing the LBD. Although increased DHT levels may weaken C15’s inhibition of the AR DBD, addition of a LBD-targeting AR inhibitor improves the inhibitory potential of both drugs. Based on these results, we conclude that C15 may hold great clinical potential as it successfully inhibits CRPC by targeting the AR DBD with minimal toxicity, and it can improve the effects of standard-of-care LBD-targeting AR inhibitors by reducing AR-V-induced resistance.

Citation Format: Thomas M. Steele, Elisabeth A. Messner, Maria Malvina Tsamouri, Salma Siddiqui, Brian Bennion, Ruiwu Liu, Paramita Ghosh. Targeting the DNA-binding domain of the androgen receptor in castration-resistant prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2650.

Quantitative Assessment of Electrostatic Embedding in Density Functional Theory Calculations of Biomolecular Systems

We evaluate the accuracy of density functional theory quantum calculations of biomolecular subsystems using a simple electrostatic embedding scheme. Our scheme is based on dividing the system of interest into a primary and secondary subsystem. A finite difference discretization of the Kohn-Sham equations is used for the primary subsystem, while its electrostatic environment is modeled with a simple one-electron potential. Force-field atomic partial charges are used to generate smeared Gaussian charge densities and to model the secondary subsystem. We illustrate the utility of this approach with calculations of truncated dipeptide chains. We analyze quantitatively the accuracy of this approach by calculating atomic forces and comparing results with full QM calculations. The impact of the choice made in terminating dangling bonds at the frontier of the QM region is also investigated.

Montney Fracturing-Fluid Considerations

The Montney gas reservoir has become a critically important component of current western Canadian gas supply and offers exciting future potential. However, this reservoir often presents variable and unique stimulation challenges. Unlike reservoirs that display little water sensitivity, such as the U.S. Barnett Shale and possibly the Muskwa in the Northeastern British Columbia Horn River Basin, recovery of water-based fluids in the Montney can be a key consideration in achieving economic production rates.

The use of water-based fracturing fluids in low-permeability reservoirs can result in loss of effective frac half-length caused by phase trapping associated with the retention of the introduced water-based fluid to the formation. This problem is increased by the water-wet nature of most tight-gas reservoirs (where no initial liquid-hydrocarbon saturation is or ever has been present) because of the strong spreading coefficient of water in such a situation.

The retention of increased water saturation (Sw) in the pore system after the injection of water-based completion fluids can restrict the flow of produced gaseous hydrocarbons, such as methane. Capillary pressures of 10 MPa-20 MPa, or much higher, can be present in low-permeability formations at low-water saturation levels. Inability to generate sufficient capillary-drawdown force using the natural reservoir-drawdown pressure can result in extended fluid-recovery times or permanent loss of effective fracture half-length. Furthermore, use of water in subnormally saturated reservoirs, where much of the connate water has been removed by long-term evaporation effects associated with gas migration, might also reduce permeability and associated gas flow through a permanent increase in Sw of the reservoir. Secondary costs, such as rig time for swabbing, can add to the negative economic impact.

The Montney is found to be a dry-gas reservoir in some areas, transitioning to an oil reservoir in other areas. Because of this, it would not be surprising to encounter retrograde condensate production through transition areas. In such a case, if sufficient drawdown pressure is applied to reduce reservoir pressure below the dewpoint, liquid hydrocarbons might condense from the produced gas phase, resulting in two-phase flow and potential trapping of the hydrocarbon liquid phase. Also, some areas of the upper Montney exhibit reservoir pressures in the 30 MPa range, whereas other areas exhibit lower pressures in the 17 MPa-21MPa range. The same drawdown on a lower-pressured reservoir could therefore result in condensate condensing from the gas phase, where it would not have in the higher-pressured reservoir. If a third aqueous fracturing fluid is introduced, three-phase flow might occur. The resulting reduced relative permeability to gas might drastically reduce production rates. Also, emulsion-formation potential exists, which could present an additional reduction in fluid flow and recovery.

Choice of fracturing fluid must be carefully determined for each area of the Montney, balancing economics with production. It is important to always keep in mind that key reservoir properties can vary dramatically in the Montney, as a function of both geographic location and depth.

This paper presents laboratory test results of regained methane permeability vs. drawdown pressure and contact time with Montney core under representative reservoir conditions. Water, foamed water and hydrocarbon-based fracturing fluid systems are evaluated.

The testing was funded by and arranged for by operators in preparation for actual fracturing treatments in two different fields. Core plugs, time and funding were limited; therefore, only tests deemed necessary for decision-making were run.  Limited repeat testing was therefore possible.

Response to intradialytic parenteral nutrition

Malnutrition is a major clinical problem in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and has adverse effects on survival. Nutritional intervention is indicated, and there is evidence that intradialytic parenteral nutrition can be beneficial. We describe the application of a formal policy regarding the use of intradialytic parenteral nutrition and the beneficial effects on nutrition in the first four patients managed in this fashion. However, the fifth patient did not respond to parenteral nutrition, despite adequate dialysis. This prompted further investigation, and the patient was shown to have extensive gastric malignancy. This report shows that establishing a protocol for intradialytic parenteral nutrition is possible in a medium-sized hemodialysis unit. In these circumstances, nonresponse to this intervention should always be investigated to determine if there is another underlying cause of malnutrition unrelated to renal failure.

Interdomain information transfer during substrate activation of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase: the interaction between cysteine 221 and histidine 92

Oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis was carried out on pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at two cysteines on the beta domain (221 and 222) and at H92 on the alpha domain, across the domain divide from C221. While C221 has been shown to provide the trigger for substrate activation [Baburina, I., et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 5630-5635], the information must be transmitted from the substrate bound at this site [Arjunan, D., et al. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 256, 590-600] to the active center thiamin diphosphate located at the interface of the alpha and gamma domains. Substitution at H92 with G, A, or C leads to great reduction of the Hill coefficient (from 2.0 in the wild-type enzyme to 1.2-1.3), while substitution for Lys affords an active enzyme with a Hill coefficient of 1.5-1.6. Iodoacetate at 10 mM reduced the Hill coefficient from 2.0 to 1.1, while also causing significant inactivation of the enzyme, presumably by carboxymethylation of C221. 1,3-Dibromoacetone, a potential cross-linker when added to the H92C/C222S variant at 0.1 mM, abolished substrate activation while reducing the activity only by 30%. Therefore, 1,3-dibromoacetone may cross-link C92 and C221. It was concluded that H92 is on the information transfer pathway during the substrate activation process and the interaction between C221 on the beta domain and H92 on the alpha domain is required for substrate activation. Extensive pH studies of the steady-state kinetic constants provide support for the interaction of C221 and H92 and the transmission of regulatory information to the active center via this pathway and pKaS for the two groups. This important interaction between the C221-bound pyruvate and His92 probably has both electrostatic and steric components.