Serina Cheung1,2, Pallavi Jain1, Jonathan So1,2,3,4, Saeid Shahidi1,2, Stephen Chung1, Marianne Koritzinsky1,2,4,5. 1. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada. 2. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. 3. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada. 5. Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aberrant androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a major driver of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Tumor hypoxia increases AR signaling and is associated with treatment resistance in prostate cancer. Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is a molecular chaperone that is activated in response to heat shock and hypoxia. Hsp27 has previously been reported to facilitate AR nuclear translocation in a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) dependent manner in castration-sensitive prostate cancer cell lines. Here, we evaluated the potential for inhibiting p38 MAPK/Hsp27 mediated AR signaling under normoxia and hypoxia in experimental models of CRPC. METHODS: We inhibited p38 MAPK with SB203580 in prostate cancer cell lines and measured Hsp27 phosphorylation, AR activity, cell proliferation, and clonogenicity under normoxia and hypoxia. AR activity was measured using an androgen response element driven reporter assay and qPCR to measure expression of AR target genes. Xenograft-bearing mice were treated with SB203580 to measure tumor growth and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). RESULTS: Our results indicate that p38 MAPK and Hsp27 are activated under normoxia and hypoxia in response to androgens in CRPC cells. p38 MAPK inhibition diminished Hsp27 activation and the hypoxia-mediated increase in AR activity. Additionally, inhibition of p38 MAPK activity decreased proliferation and survival of CRPC cells in vitro and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that p38 MAPK inhibition may represent a therapeutic strategy to disrupt AR signaling in the heterogeneous CRPC tumor microenvironment.
BACKGROUND: Aberrant androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a major driver of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Tumor hypoxia increases AR signaling and is associated with treatment resistance in prostate cancer. Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is a molecular chaperone that is activated in response to heat shock and hypoxia. Hsp27 has previously been reported to facilitate AR nuclear translocation in a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) dependent manner in castration-sensitive prostate cancer cell lines. Here, we evaluated the potential for inhibiting p38 MAPK/Hsp27 mediated AR signaling under normoxia and hypoxia in experimental models of CRPC. METHODS: We inhibited p38 MAPK with SB203580 in prostate cancer cell lines and measured Hsp27 phosphorylation, AR activity, cell proliferation, and clonogenicity under normoxia and hypoxia. AR activity was measured using an androgen response element driven reporter assay and qPCR to measure expression of AR target genes. Xenograft-bearing mice were treated with SB203580 to measure tumor growth and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). RESULTS: Our results indicate that p38 MAPK and Hsp27 are activated under normoxia and hypoxia in response to androgens in CRPC cells. p38 MAPK inhibition diminished Hsp27 activation and the hypoxia-mediated increase in AR activity. Additionally, inhibition of p38 MAPK activity decreased proliferation and survival of CRPC cells in vitro and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that p38 MAPK inhibition may represent a therapeutic strategy to disrupt AR signaling in the heterogeneous CRPC tumor microenvironment.
Authors: Seung Wan Son; Ba Da Yun; Mun Gyu Song; Jin Kyeong Lee; Soo Young Choi; Hyo Jeong Kuh; Jong Kook Park Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-07-06 Impact factor: 5.923