TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic activity with NOTCH inhibition and androgen ablation in ERG-positive prostate cancer cells
AU - Mohamed, Ahmed A.
AU - Tan, Shyh Han
AU - Xavier, Charles P.
AU - Katta, Shilpa
AU - Huang, Wei
AU - Ravindranath, Lakshmi
AU - Jamal, Muhammad
AU - Li, Hua
AU - Srivastava, Meera
AU - Srivatsan, Eri S.
AU - Sreenath, Taduru L.
AU - McLeod, David G.
AU - Srinivasan, Alagarsamy
AU - Petrovics, Gyorgy
AU - Dobi, Albert
AU - Srivastava, Shiv
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©2017 AACR.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - The oncogenic activation of the ETS-related gene (ERG) due to gene fusions is present in over half of prostate cancers in Western countries. Because of its high incidence and oncogenic role, ERG and components of ERG network have emerged as potential drug targets for prostate cancer. Utilizing gene expression datasets, from matched normal and prostate tumor epithelial cells, an association of NOTCH transcription factors with ERG expression status was identified, confirming that NOTCH factors are direct transcriptional targets of ERG. Inhibition of ERG in TMPRSS2-ERG–positive VCaP cells led to decreased levels of NOTCH1 and 2 proteins and downstream transcriptional targets and partially recapitulated the phenotypes associated with ERG inhibition. Regulation of NOTCH1 and 2 genes by ERG were also noted with ectopic ERG expression in LNCaP (ERG-negative prostate cancer) and RWPE-1 (benign prostate–derived immortalized) cells. Furthermore, inhibition of NOTCH by the small-molecule g-secretase inhibitor 1, GSI-1, conferred an increased sensitivity to androgen receptor (AR) inhibitors (bicalutamide and enzalutamide) or the androgen biosynthesis inhibitor (abiraterone) in VCaP cells. Combined treatment with bicalutamide and GSI-1 showed strongest inhibition of AR, ERG, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and PSA protein levels along with decreased cell growth, cell survival, and enhanced apoptosis. Intriguingly, this effect was not observed in ERG-negative prostate cancer cells or immortalized benign/normal prostate epithelial cells. These data underscore the synergy of AR and NOTCH inhibitors in reducing the growth of ERG-positive prostate cancer cells.
AB - The oncogenic activation of the ETS-related gene (ERG) due to gene fusions is present in over half of prostate cancers in Western countries. Because of its high incidence and oncogenic role, ERG and components of ERG network have emerged as potential drug targets for prostate cancer. Utilizing gene expression datasets, from matched normal and prostate tumor epithelial cells, an association of NOTCH transcription factors with ERG expression status was identified, confirming that NOTCH factors are direct transcriptional targets of ERG. Inhibition of ERG in TMPRSS2-ERG–positive VCaP cells led to decreased levels of NOTCH1 and 2 proteins and downstream transcriptional targets and partially recapitulated the phenotypes associated with ERG inhibition. Regulation of NOTCH1 and 2 genes by ERG were also noted with ectopic ERG expression in LNCaP (ERG-negative prostate cancer) and RWPE-1 (benign prostate–derived immortalized) cells. Furthermore, inhibition of NOTCH by the small-molecule g-secretase inhibitor 1, GSI-1, conferred an increased sensitivity to androgen receptor (AR) inhibitors (bicalutamide and enzalutamide) or the androgen biosynthesis inhibitor (abiraterone) in VCaP cells. Combined treatment with bicalutamide and GSI-1 showed strongest inhibition of AR, ERG, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and PSA protein levels along with decreased cell growth, cell survival, and enhanced apoptosis. Intriguingly, this effect was not observed in ERG-negative prostate cancer cells or immortalized benign/normal prostate epithelial cells. These data underscore the synergy of AR and NOTCH inhibitors in reducing the growth of ERG-positive prostate cancer cells.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030481723&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-17-0058
DO - 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-17-0058
M3 - Article
C2 - 28607007
AN - SCOPUS:85030481723
SN - 1541-7786
VL - 15
SP - 1308
EP - 1317
JO - Molecular Cancer Research
JF - Molecular Cancer Research
IS - 10
ER -