Prostate Tumor Overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) promotes docetaxel-resistance and survival of castration resistant prostate cancer cells

PTOV1 interacts with ZNF449 to promote colorectal cancer development

PTOV1 is recognized to have a significant role in various human cancers, including prostate cancer. However, it remains unclear what its clinical significance and biological role are in colorectal cancer (CRC). TCGA, NCBI/GEO, and Kaplan-Meier plot database mining provided important clues into the function and clinical importance of PTOV1 in CRC. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were utilized to discover PTOV1 protein levels in CRC cell lines and tissues. To explore the involvement of PTOV1 in the development of CRC and the underlying mechanisms, several in-vitro and in-vivo studies were executed, such as CCK-8 assays, colony formation, transwell assays, qRT-PCR, Co-IP, GST pull-down, immunostaining, and mouse xenograft assays. It was shown that PTOV1 expression level was upregulated in the tissues and cells of human CRC. PTOV1 high-expression level was associated with short survival. ZNF449 interacted with PTOV1 and accelerated CRC development in vitro and in vivo. Through Co-IP and GST pull-down studies, the physical interaction of PTOV1/ZNF449 was demonstrated. Furthermore, PTOV1 directly bound ZNF449, and this complex synergistically promoted the transcription of MYC. In addition, the PTOV1/ZNF449 interaction was disrupted by the TAT- PTOV1 (125-283 aa) protein leading to inhibit the CRC development in a xenografted mouse model. According to these findings, PTOV1 has an essential role in CRC progression, and PTOV1/ZNF449 interaction could be a possible therapeutic target for CRC.

PTOV1 facilitates colorectal cancer cell proliferation through activating AKT1 signaling pathway

Background

Colorectal cancer is a predominant contributor to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The oncogene PTOV1 has been linked to various human malignancies, yet its specific role in CRC pathogenesis requires further elucidation.

Methods

Our study used a comprehensive array of authoritative bioinformatics tools, such as TIMER, UCSC Xena, GEO, Human Protein Atlas, UALCAN, CIBERSORTx and others which used to investigate the complex effects of PTOV1 on gene expression profiles, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, tumor immunology, signaling pathways, epigenetic alterations, and genetic mutations. Gene expression validation was conducted using Western blot and qRT-PCR. The in vitro proliferative and migratory potentials of CRC cells were evaluated using CCK-8 assays, colony formation, and transwell migration assays, respectively. MSP was applied to assess the methylation status of the PTOV1 promoter region.

Results

Our results reveal a significant association between increased PTOV1 expression, driven by promoter hypomethylation, and poor patient prognosis in CRC. Elevated PTOV1 levels were positively correlated with the enrichment of diverse immune cell subsets and immune-related molecules within the tumor microenvironment. In vitro assays demonstrated that PTOV1 knockdown markedly reduced CRC cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration, while ectopic PTOV1 expression had the opposite effect. Importantly, PTOV1 was shown to regulate the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, significantly influencing the phosphorylation of AKT1 and the expression of cell cycle regulators P21 and P27. The pharmacological inhibition of AKT1 phosphorylation using MK2206 effectively counteracted the proliferative effects induced by PTOV1 overexpression.

Conclusion

The ability of PTOV1 to enhance CRC cell proliferation via modulation of the AKT1 signaling pathway establishes it as a potential therapeutic target and a promising biomarker for prognostic stratification in CRC.

Metronomic Administration of Topotecan Alone and in Combination with Docetaxel Inhibits Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancers

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of noncutaneous cancer-related deaths in American men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy remain the primary treatment for patients with early-stage prostate cancer (castration-sensitive prostate cancer). Following ADT, many patients ultimately develop metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Standard chemotherapy options for CRPC are docetaxel (DTX) and cabazitaxel, which increase median survival, although the development of resistance is common. Cancer stem-like cells possess mesenchymal phenotypes [epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)] and play crucial roles in tumor initiation and progression of mCRPC. We have shown that low-dose continuous administration of topotecan (METRO-TOPO) inhibits prostate cancer growth by interfering with key cancer pathway genes. This study utilized bulk and single-cell or whole-transcriptome analysis [(RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)], and we observed greater expression of several EMT markers, including Vimentin, hyaluronan synthase-3, S100 calcium binding protein A6, TGFB1, CD44, CD55, and CD109 in European American and African American aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) subtypes-mCRPC, neuroendocrine variant (NEPC), and taxane-resistant. The taxane-resistant gene FSCN1 was also expressed highly in single-cell subclonal populations in mCRPC. Furthermore, metronomic-topotecan single agent and combinations with DTX downregulated these EMT markers as well as CD44+ and CD44+/CD133+ "stem-like" cell populations. A microfluidic chip-based cell invasion assay revealed that METRO-TOPO treatment as a single agent or in combination with DTX was potentially effective against invasive prostate cancer spread. Our RNA-seq and scRNA-seq analysis were supported by in silico and in vitro studies, suggesting METRO-TOPO combined with DTX may inhibit oncogenic progression by reducing cancer stemness in AVPC through the inhibition of EMT markers and multiple oncogenic factors/pathways.

Significance

The utilization of metronomic-like dosing regimens of topotecan alone and in combination with DTX resulted in the suppression of makers associated with EMT and stem-like cell populations in AVPC models. The identification of molecular signatures and their potential to serve as novel biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy and disease progression response to treatment efficacy and disease progression were achieved using bulk RNA-seq and single-cell-omics methodologies.

SGK2, 14-3-3, and HUWE1 Cooperate to Control the Localization, Stability, and Function of the Oncoprotein PTOV1

PTOV1 is an oncogenic protein, initially identified in prostate cancer, that promotes proliferation, cell motility, and invasiveness. However, the mechanisms that regulate PTOV1 remain unclear. Here, we identify 14-3-3 as a PTOV1 interactor and show that high levels of 14-3-3 expression, like PTOV1, correlate with prostate cancer progression. We discover an SGK2-mediated phosphorylation of PTOV1 at S36, which is required for 14-3-3 binding. Disruption of the PTOV1-14-3-3 interaction results in an accumulation of PTOV1 in the nucleus and a proteasome-dependent reduction in PTOV1 protein levels. We find that loss of 14-3-3 binding leads to an increase in PTOV1 binding to the E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1, which promotes proteasomal degradation of PTOV1. Conversely, our data suggest that 14-3-3 stabilizes PTOV1 protein by sequestering PTOV1 in the cytosol and inhibiting its interaction with HUWE1. Finally, our data suggest that stabilization of the 14-3-3-bound form of PTOV1 promotes PTOV1-mediated expression of cJun, which drives cell-cycle progression in cancer. Together, these data provide a mechanism to understand the regulation of the oncoprotein PTOV1. IMPLICATIONS: These findings identify a potentially targetable mechanism that regulates the oncoprotein PTOV1.

Eggmanone Effectively Overcomes Prostate Cancer Cell Chemoresistance

Prostate cancer chemoresistance is a major therapeutic problem, and the underlying mechanism is not well understood and effective therapies to overcome this problem are not available. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), a main intracellular enzyme for cAMP hydrolysis, has been previously shown to involve in the early chemo-sensitive prostate cancer cell proliferation and progression, but its role in the more-advanced chemo-resistant prostate cancer is completely unknown. Here we found that the expression of PDE4 subtype, PDE4D, is highly elevated in the chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells (DU145-TxR and PC3-TxR) in comparison to the chemo-sensitive prostate cancer cells (DU145 and PC3). Inhibition of PDE4D with a potent and selective PDED4 inhibitor, Eggmanone, effectively decreases the invasion and proliferation as well as induces cell death of the chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells (DU145-TxR and PC3-TxR). These results were confirmed by siRNA knockdown of PDE4D. We and colleagues previously reported that Eggmanone can effectively blocked sonic Hedgehog signaling via PDE4D inhibition, and here our study suggests that that Eggmanone downregulated proliferation of the chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells via sonic Hedgehog signaling. In addition, Eggmanone treatment dose-dependently increases docetaxel cytotoxicity to DU145-TxR and PC3-TxR. As cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to be implicated in cancer chemoresistance, we further examined Eggmanone impacts on CSC-like properties in the chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells. Our study shows that Eggmanone effectively down-regulates the expression of CSCs’ marker genes Nanog and ABC sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) and attenuates sphere formation in DU145-TxR and PC3-TxR cells. In summary, our work shows that Eggmanone effectively overcomes the chemoresistance of prostate cancer cells presumably through sonic Hedgehog signaling and targeting CSCs, suggesting that Eggmanone may serve as a novel agent for chemo-resistant prostate cancer.

Periprostatic adipose tissue promotes prostate cancer resistance to docetaxel by paracrine IGF-1 upregulation of TUBB2B beta-tubulin isoform

Growing evidence supports the pivotal role played by periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) in prostate cancer (PCa) microenvironment. We investigated whether PPAT can affect response to Docetaxel (DCTX) and the mechanisms associated. Conditioned medium was collected from the in vitro differentiated adipocytes isolated from PPAT which was isolated from PCa patients, during radical prostatectomy. Drug efficacy was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide citotoxicity assay. Culture with CM of human PPAT (AdipoCM) promotes DCTX resistance in two different human prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3) and upregulated the expression of BCL-xL, BCL-2, and TUBB2B. AG1024, a well-known IGF-1 receptor inhibitor, counteracts the decreased response to DCTX observed in presence of AdipoCM and decreased TUBB2B expression, suggesting that a paracrine secretion of IGF-1 by PPAT affect DCTX response of PCa cell. Collectively, our study showed that factors secreted by PPAT elicits DCTX resistance through antiapoptotic proteins and TUBB2B upregulation in androgen independent PCa cell lines. These findings reveal the potential of novel therapeutic strategies targeting adipocyte-released factors and IGF-1 axis to overcome DCTX resistance in patients with PCa.

Molecular tracing of prostate cancer lethality

Prostate cancer is diagnosed mostly in men over the age of 50 years, and has favorable 5-year survival rates due to early cancer detection and availability of curative surgical management. However, progression to metastasis and emergence of therapeutic resistance are responsible for the majority of prostate cancer mortalities. Recent advancement in sequencing technologies and computational capabilities have improved the ability to organize and analyze large data, thus enabling the identification of novel biomarkers for survival, metastatic progression and patient prognosis. Large-scale sequencing studies have also uncovered genetic and epigenetic signatures associated with prostate cancer molecular subtypes, supporting the development of personalized targeted-therapies. However, the current state of mainstream prostate cancer management does not take full advantage of the personalized diagnostic and treatment modalities available. This review focuses on interrogating biomarkers of prostate cancer progression, including gene signatures that correspond to the acquisition of tumor lethality and those of predictive and prognostic value in progression to advanced disease, and suggest how we can use our knowledge of biomarkers and molecular subtypes to improve patient treatment and survival outcomes.

STAT3 inhibition with galiellalactone effectively targets the prostate cancer stem-like cell population

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of quiescent cells with the potential to differentiate into tumor cells. CSCs are involved in tumor initiation and progression and contribute to treatment failure through their intrinsic resistance to chemo- or radiotherapy, thus representing a substantial concern for cancer treatment. Prostate CSCs’ activity has been shown to be regulated by the transcription factor Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3). Here we investigated the effect of galiellalactone (GL), a direct STAT3 inhibitor, on CSCs derived from prostate cancer patients, on docetaxel-resistant spheres with stem cell characteristics, on CSCs obtained from the DU145 cell line in vitro and on DU145 tumors in vivo. We found that GL significantly reduced the viability of docetaxel-resistant and patient-derived spheres. Moreover, CSCs isolated from DU145 cells were sensitive to low concentrations of GL, and the treatment with GL suppressed their viability and their ability to form colonies and spheres. STAT3 inhibition down regulated transcriptional targets of STAT3 in these cells, indicating STAT3 activity in CSCs. Our results indicate that GL can target the prostate stem cell niche in patient-derived cells, in docetaxel-resistant spheres and in an in vitro model. We conclude that GL represents a promising therapeutic approach for prostate cancer patients, as it reduces the viability of prostate cancer-therapy-resistant cells in both CSCs and non-CSC populations.

Insights into new mechanisms and models of cancer stem cell multidrug resistance

The acquisition of genetic alterations, clonal evolution, and the tumor microenvironment promote cancer progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. These events correspond to the establishment of the great phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity of cancer cells that contribute to tumor progression and resistant disease. Targeting resistant cancers is a major challenge in oncology; however, the underlying processes are not yet fully understood. Even though current treatments can reduce tumor size and increase life expectancy, relapse and multidrug resistance (MDR) ultimately remain the second cause of death in developed countries. Recent evidence points toward stem-like phenotypes in cancer cells, promoted by cancer stem cells (CSCs), as the main culprit of cancer relapse, resistance (radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and/or chemotherapy) and metastasis. Many mechanisms have been proposed for CSC resistance, such as drug efflux through ABC transporters, overactivation of the DNA damage response (DDR), apoptosis evasion, prosurvival pathways activation, cell cycle promotion and/or cell metabolic alterations. Nonetheless, targeted therapy toward these specific CSC mechanisms is only partially effective to prevent or abolish resistance, suggesting underlying additional causes for CSC resilience. This article aims to provide an integrated picture of the MDR mechanisms that operate in CSCs' behavior and to propose a novel model of tumor evolution during chemotherapy. Targeting the pathways mentioned here might hold promise and reveal new strategies for future clinical therapeutic approaches.

Autophagy inhibition as a promising therapeutic target for laryngeal cancer

To identify the putative relevance of autophagy in laryngeal cancer, we performed an immunohistochemistry study to analyze the expression of the proteins involved in this process, namely, LC3, ATG5 and p62/SQSTM1. Additionally, Prostate tumor-overexpressed gene 1 protein (PTOV1) was included due to its potential relevance in laryngeal cancer. Moreover, as cancer resistance might involve autophagy in some circumstances, we studied the intrinsic drug resistance capacity of primary tumor cultures derived from 13 laryngeal cancer biopsies and their expression levels of LC3, ATG5, p62 and PTOV1. Overall, our results suggest that (i) cytoplasmic p62 and PTOV1 can be considered prognostic markers in laryngeal cancer, (ii) the acquisition of resistance seems to be related to PTOV1 and autophagy-related protein overexpression, (iii) by increasing autophagy, PTOV1 might contribute to resistance in this model and (iv) the expression of autophagy-related proteins could classify a subgroup of laryngeal cancer patients who will benefit from a therapy based upon autophagy inhibition. Our study suggests that autophagy inhibition with hydroxychloroquine could be a promising strategy for laryngeal cancer patients, particularly those patients with high resistance to the CDDP treatment that in addition have autophagy upregulation.

Identification of Novel Markers of Prostate Cancer Progression, Potentially Modulated by Vitamin D

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men. The main risk factors associated with the disease include older age, family history of the disease, smoking, alcohol and race. Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone whose low levels are associated with several diseases and a risk of cancer. Here, we undertook microarray analysis in order to identify the genes involved in PCa. We analyzed three PCa microarray datasets, overlapped all genes significantly up-regulated, and subsequently intersected the common genes identified with the down-regulated genes transcriptome of LNCaP cells treated with 1α,25(OH)2D3, in order to identify the common genes involved in PCa and potentially modulated by Vitamin D. The analysis yielded 43 genes potentially involved in PCa and significantly modulated by Vitamin D. Noteworthy, our analysis showed that six genes (PRSS8, SOX4, SMYD2, MCCC2, CCNG2 and CD2AP) were significantly modulated. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that five genes out of six (SOX4 was independent), were statistically correlated with the gene expression levels of KLK3, and with the tumor percentage. From the outcome of our investigation, it is possible to conclude that the genes identified by our analysis are associated with the PCa and are potentially modulated by the Vitamin D.

Docetaxel Combined with Thymoquinone Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells via Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Toxicity and the development of resistance by cancer cells are impediments for docetaxel (DTX), a primary drug for treating prostate cancer (PCa). Since the combination of DTX with natural compounds can increase its effectiveness by reducing its toxic concentrations, we evaluated a combination of thymoquinone (TQ) with DTX and determined its cytotoxicity against PCa cells (DU145 and C4-2B). This combination, in a concentration-dependent manner, resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis in comparison to either DTX or TQ alone. In addition, inhibition of cell survival pathways by PI3K/AKT inhibitors conferred sensitivity of DU145 and C4-2B cells to the combination as compared to the individual drugs. Moreover, the combined drugs (DTX+TQ) with inhibitors of PI3K/AKT increased the expression of pro-apoptotic markers (BAX and BID) along with caspase-3, PARP and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic marker, BCL-XL. These data show that, for PCa cells, the cytotoxic effect of the DTX and TQ combination correlates with a block of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings indicate that the combination of DTX and TQ, by blocking of the PI3K/AKT pathway, will improve the survival rate and quality of life of PCa patients.

Depleting PTOV1 sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells to chemotherapy through attenuating cancer stem cell traits

Background

Prostate tumor over expressed gene 1 (PTOV1) has been reported as an oncogene in several human cancers. However, the clinical significance and biological role of PTOV1 remain elusive in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and NCBI/GEO data mining, western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to characterize the expression of PTOV1 in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. The clinical significance of PTOV1 in NSCLC was studied by immunohistochemistry statistical analysis and Kaplan–Meier Plotter database mining. A series of in-vivo and in-vitro assays, including colony formation, CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, wound healing, trans-well assay, tumor sphere formation, quantitative PCR, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immunostaining and xenografts tumor model, were performed to demonstrate the effects of PTOV1 on chemosensitivity of NSCLC cells and the underlying mechanisms.

Results

PTOV1 is overexpressed in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. High PTOV1 level indicates a short survival time and poor response to chemotherapy of NSCLC patients. Depleting PTOV1 increased sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and docetaxel by increasing cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell migration and invasion. Our study verified that depleting PTOV1 attenuated cancer stem cell traits through impairing DKK1/β-catenin signaling to enhance chemosensitivity of NSCLC cells.

Conclusion

These results suggest that PTOV1 plays an important role in the development and progression of human NSCLC and PTOV1 may serve as a therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1349-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A novel DNA-binding motif in prostate tumor overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) required for the expression of ALDH1A1 and CCNG2 in cancer cells

PTOV1 is a transcription and translation regulator and a promoter of cancer progression. Its overexpression in prostate cancer induces transcription of drug resistance and self-renewal genes, and docetaxel resistance. Here we studied PTOV1 ability to directly activate the transcription of ALDH1A1 and CCNG2 by binding to specific promoter sequences. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified a DNA-binding motif inside the PTOV-A domain with similarities to known AT-hooks that specifically interacts with ALDH1A1 and CCNG2 promoters. Mutation of this AT-hook-like sequence significantly decreased the expression of ALDH1A1 and CCNG2 promoted by PTOV1. Immunohistochemistry revealed the association of PTOV1 with mitotic chromosomes in high grade prostate, colon, bladder, and breast carcinomas. Overexpression of PTOV1, ALDH1A1, and CCNG2 significantly correlated with poor prognosis in prostate carcinomas and with shorter relapse-free survival in colon carcinoma. The previously described interaction with translation complexes and its direct binding to ALDH1A1 and CCNG2 promoters found here reveal the PTOV1 capacity to modulate the expression of critical genes at multiple levels in aggressive cancers. Remarkably, the AT-hook motifs in PTOV1 open possibilities for selective targeting its nuclear and/or cytoplasmic activities.

Establishment and characterization of two cabazitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines

Once castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) become resistant for cabazitaxel treatment, the patients are obliged to best supportive care. Therefore, the elucidation of the mechanism of the cabazitaxel-resistance and the conquest are important themes to improve the prognosis of the patients. Then we tried to establish cabazitaxel-resistant CRPC cell lines and characterized them. We established two cabazitaxel-resistant cell lines, PC-3-TxR/CxR and DU145-TxR/CxR from PC-3-TxR and DU145-TxR cell lines previously we established. PC-3-TxR/CxR and DU145-TxR/CxR cells became resistant for cabazitaxel by 11.8-fold and 4.4-fold, respectively. The TxR/CxR cells showed cabazitaxel-resistant using SCID mice in vivo. Although expression of multi-drug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) was up-regulated in DU145-TxR compared with DU145 cells, it was not up-regulated in DU145-TxR/CxR cells any more. In contrast, expression of MDR1 gene was up-regulated in PC-3-TxR compared with PC-3 cells and it was further up-regulated in PC-3-TxR/CxR compared with PC-3-TxR cells. Comparison of cDNA microarray between PC-3-TxR and PC-3-TxR/CxR cells or between DU145-TxR and DU145-TxR/CxR cells revealed that many genes were up-regulated or down-regulated. Finally, knockdown of MDR1 recovered the sensitivity to cabazitaxel not only in PC-3-TxR/CxR cells but also DU145-TxR/CxR cells. Together, regulation of MDR1 gene is important for conquest of the cabazitaxel-resistance.