Reciprocal feedback regulation of PI3K and androgen receptor signaling in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is characterized by its dependence on androgen receptor (AR) and frequent activation of PI3K signaling. We find that AR transcriptional output is decreased in human and murine tumors with PTEN deletion and that PI3K pathway inhibition activates AR signaling by relieving feedback inhibition of HER kinases. Similarly, AR inhibition activates AKT signaling by reducing levels of the AKT phosphatase PHLPP. Thus, these two oncogenic pathways cross-regulate each other by reciprocal feedback. Inhibition of one activates the other, thereby maintaining tumor cell survival. However, combined pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K and AR signaling caused near-complete prostate cancer regressions in a Pten-deficient murine prostate cancer model and in human prostate cancer xenografts, indicating that both pathways coordinately support survival.

Carver BS ，Chapinski C ，Wongvipat J ，Hieronymus H ，Chen Y ，Chandarlapaty S ，Arora VK ，Le C ，Koutcher J ，Scher H ，Scardino PT ，Rosen N ，Sawyers CL ... -  《-》

High Efficacy of Combination Therapy Using PI3K/AKT Inhibitors with Androgen Deprivation in Prostate Cancer Preclinical Models.

The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway is frequently activated during prostate cancer (PCa) progression through loss or mutation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene. Following the androgen receptor (AR) pathway, it is the second major driver of PCa growth. To assess efficacy of novel PI3K/AKT-targeted therapies in PCa models, as a single agent and in combination with androgen deprivation. Twelve human PCa cell lines were tested in vitro for sensitivity to the AKT inhibitor AZD5363 and the PI3K beta/delta inhibitor AZD8186. The combination of AZD5363 and AZD8186 with castration was evaluated in vivo in PTEN-negative versus PTEN-positive patient-derived xenografts. Tumors and plasma were collected for biomarker analysis. In vitro growth inhibition was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. In vivo efficacy was monitored by caliper measurements of subcutaneous tumor volume. PI3K/AKT and AR pathway activity was analyzed by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. AZD5363 and AZD8186 inhibited in vitro growth of 10 of 12 and 7 of 12 PCa cell lines, respectively, with increased sensitivity under androgen depletion. In vivo, AZD5363 and AZD8186 as single agents significantly inhibited growth of PTEN-negative PC346C xenografts compared to placebo by 60% and 66%, respectively. Importantly, combination of either agent with castration resulted in long-lasting tumor regression, which persisted after treatment cessation. Expression of AR-target genes kallikrein-related peptidase 3 (KLK3, also known as PSA); transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2); and FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) was upregulated after PI3K/AKT inhibition. Neither compound inhibited tumor growth in the PTEN-positive PC310 model. Combination with hormonal therapy improved efficacy of PI3K/AKT-targeted agents in PTEN-negative PCa models. Upregulation of AR-target genes upon PI3K/AKT inhibition suggests a compensatory crosstalk between the PI3K-AR pathways. These data strongly advocate for further clinical evaluation. Inactivation of the PTEN gene is a common event promoting prostate cancer (PCa) progression. This preclinical study illustrates the potent anticancer activity of novel PTEN-targeted drugs on PCa models, particularly in combination with hormonal therapy.

Marques RB ，Aghai A ，de Ridder CMA ，Stuurman D ，Hoeben S ，Boer A ，Ellston RP ，Barry ST ，Davies BR ，Trapman J ，van Weerden WM ... -  《-》

The ErbB family and androgen receptor signaling are targets of Celecoxib in prostate cancer.

Inflammation plays a central role in prostate cancer (PCa) development through significant crosstalk between the COX-2-ErbB family receptor network and androgen receptor (AR)-EGFR signaling pathways. The purpose of this work was to determine the ability of the COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib to modulate the EGFR-AR signaling pathway in androgen-dependent PCa cells and to provide a rationale for its beneficial use in chemopreventive strategies. Functional studies of Celecoxib activity were performed on LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Western blotting, gene expression analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and ELISA were applied to assess the Celecoxib mechanisms of action. We found that Celecoxib, through EGF and amphiregulin (AREG) induction, caused EGFR and ErbB2 activation and consequent degradation associated with the inhibition of androgenic signaling. By upregulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1, Celecoxib also efficiently downregulated ErbB3, which is strongly implicated in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Lastly, Celecoxib directly regulated AR transcription and translation independent of ErbB activation by downregulating the RNA binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K). The simultaneous suppression of ErbB kinases and androgen signaling by Celecoxib represents a novel strategy to interrupt the vicious cycle of AR/ErbB cross-talk with the primary purpose of undermining their resilient signaling in prostate cancer progression. Our data provide important premises for the chemopreventive use of Celecoxib in the clinical management of prostate cancer.

Brizzolara A ，Benelli R ，Venè R ，Barboro P ，Poggi A ，Tosetti F ，Ferrari N ... -  《-》

A novel PI3K inhibitor displays potent preclinical activity against an androgen-independent and PTEN-deficient prostate cancer model established from the cell line PC3.

Recent studies demonstrated that targeting the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway is a major strategy for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer. In the present study, we developed an analog BENC-511 from a recently reported PI3K inhibitor S14161 by structural optimization. Using PC3 and DU145 as the model cell lines, we found PTEN-deficient PC3 cells were more sensitive than PTEN-expressing DU145 ones in terms of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activation. These findings were consistent with the inhibition on PI3K/AKT signals. BENC-511 preferably suppressed AKT activation in PC3 over DU145 cells. Notably, PTEN restoration attenuated BENC-511 induced apoptosis. Moreover, BENC-511 displayed great therapeutic efficacy in a PC3-derived prostate cancer model in nude mice. With an oral dosage of 50mg/kg, BENC-511 decreased tumor growth more than 50% in 27 days, which was accompanied with PARP cleavage, but did not show overt toxicity. This study lays a solid rationale for the development of BENC-511 as a drug for the treatment of PTEN-deficient and androgen-independent prostate cancers.

Shi M ，Zhou X ，Zhang Z ，Wang M ，Chen G ，Han K ，Cao B ，Liu Z ，Mao X ... -  《-》

Resveratrol regulates the PTEN/AKT pathway through androgen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms in prostate cancer cell lines.

Wang Y ，Romigh T ，He X ，Orloff MS ，Silverman RH ，Heston WD ，Eng C ... -  《-》