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Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) results in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in a significant fraction of patients. We have previously reported that the protein levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) were inversely correlated with disease progression in men with biochemical recurrent prostate cancer treated with Lenalidomide. Recently, polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) were implicated as potential drivers of CRPC. Here we show that IL-8 expression is upregulated as a consequence of ADT and mediates the recruitment of PMN-MDSCs to the tumor microenvironment. We found that IL-8 expression is regulated by both an inflammatory stimulus (NF-kβ mediated) and loss of androgen receptor (AR) signaling following ADT. We confirmed direct binding of both the p65 subunit of NF-kβ and AR to the IL-8 promoter, and their respective effects on promoter activity. The suppressive activity of AR was further supported by a reduction in active transcription markers at the chromatin level surrounding the IL-8 promoter. Accordingly, intratumoral infiltration of PMN-MDSCs correlated with IL-8 expression, and was reduced in IL-8 knockouts. Taken together, these results suggest an innate inflammatory response, loss of AR suppressive activity, and subsequent chemokine upregulation as a potential mechanism that regulates the infiltration of PMN-MDSCs to the tumor microenvironment of CRPC after ADT. These findings open a window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions aiming to improve responses to checkpoint blockade in prostate cancer. Citation Format: Zoila A. Lopez Bujanda, Michael C. Haffner, Matthew G. Chaimowitz, Nivedita Chowdhury, Paula J. Hurley, Angela M. Christiano, Charles G. Drake. Androgen regulated IL-8 expression in prostate cancer: Insights into tumor cell mediated immunosuppression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1510.

BACKGROUND: B7-H3 (CD276), part of the B7 superfamily of immune checkpoint molecules, has been shown to have an immunomodulatory role. Its regulation, receptor and mechanism of action remain unclear. B7-H3 protein expression correlates with prostate cancer outcomes, and humanized monoclonal antibodies (that is, enoblituzumab) are currently being investigated for therapeutic use. Here we used genomic expression data to examine the relationship between B7-H3 mRNA expression and prostate cancer. METHODS: Prostatectomy tissue from 2781 patients were profiled using the Affymetrix HuEx 1.0 ST microarray. Pairwise comparisons were used to identify significant associations between B7-H3 expression and clinicopathologic variables, and survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of B7-H3. Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationship of B7-H3 expression with molecular subtypes and individual transcripts. Androgen receptor (AR) occupancy at the B7-H3 locus was determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and androgen-dependent expression changes in B7-H3 was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR in LNCaP cell lines. Oncomine was queried to evaluate B7-H3 expression in metastatic disease. RESULTS: B7-H3 mRNA expression was positively associated with higher Gleason score (P

TWIST1 is a transcription factor critical for development which can promote prostate cancer metastasis. During embryonic development, TWIST1 and HOXA9 are co-expressed in mouse prostate and then silenced post-natally. Here we report that TWIST1 and HOXA9 co-expression are re-activated in mouse and human primary prostate tumors and are further enriched in human metastases, correlating with survival. TWIST1 formed a complex with WDR5 and the lncRNA Hottip/HOTTIP, members of the MLL/COMPASS-like H3K4 methylases, which regulate chromatin in the Hox/HOX cluster during development. TWIST1 overexpression led to co-enrichment of TWIST1 and WDR5 as well increased H3K4me3 chromatin at the Hoxa9/HOXA9 promoter which was dependent on WDR5. Expression of WDR5 and Hottip/HOTTIP was also required for TWIST1-induced upregulation of HOXA9 and aggressive cellular phenotypes such as invasion and migration. Pharmacological inhibition of HOXA9 prevented TWIST1-induced aggressive prostate cancer cellular phenotypes in vitro and metastasis in vivo. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism by which TWIST1 regulates chromatin and gene expression by cooperating with the COMPASS-like complex to increase H3K4 trimethylation at target gene promoters. Our findings highlight a TWIST1-HOXA9 embryonic prostate developmental program that is reactivated during prostate cancer metastasis and is therapeutically targetable.

// Alexa Goldstein 1, 2, 3 , Patricia Valda Toro 1, 2, 3 , Justin Lee 2, 3 , John L. Silberstein 1, 3 , Mary Nakazawa 1, 3 , Ian Waters 2, 3 , Karen Cravero 2, 3 , David Chu 2, 3 , Rory L. Cochran 2, 3 , Minsoo Kim 2, 3 , Daniel Shinn 2, 3 , Samantha Torquato 1, 2, 3 , Robert M. Hughes 1, 2, 3 , Aparna Pallavajjala 4 , Michael A. Carducci 2, 3 , Channing J. Paller 2, 3 , Samuel R. Denmeade 2, 3 , Bruce Kressel 2, 3 , Bruce J. Trock 1 , Mario A. Eisenberger 1, 2, 3 , Emmanuel S. Antonarakis 1, 2, 3 , Ben H. Park 2, 3, 5 , Paula J. Hurley 1, 2, 3 1 The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 2 The Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 3 The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 4 The Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 5 The Whiting School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA Correspondence to: Paula J. Hurley, email: phurley2@jhmi.edu Keywords: next generation sequencing, droplet digital PCR, circulating tumor DNA, androgen receptor, DNA polymerase Received: September 22, 2016 Accepted: December 25, 2016 Published: January 31, 2017 ABSTRACT Somatic genetic alterations including copy number and point mutations in the androgen receptor ( AR) are associated with resistance to therapies targeting the androgen/AR axis in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Due to limitations associated with biopsying metastatic lesions, plasma derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is increasingly being used as substrate for genetic testing. AR mutations detected by deep next generation sequencing (NGS) of cfDNA from patients with mCRPC have been reported at allelic fractions ranging from over 25% to below 1%. The lower bound threshold for accurate mutation detection by deep sequencing of cfDNA has not been comprehensively determined and may have locus specific variability. Herein, we used NGS for AR mutation discovery in plasma-derived cfDNA from patients with mCRPC and then used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) for validation. Our findings show the AR (tTC>cTC) F877L hotspot was prone to false positive mutations during NGS. The rate of error at AR (tTC>cTC) F877L during amplification prior to ddPCR was variable among high fidelity polymerases. These results highlight the importance of validating low-abundant mutations detected by NGS and optimizing and controlling for amplification conditions prior to ddPCR.

Objective To assess neurite sprouting and gene expression of neurotrophic factors, nerve markers, and apoptosis in the major pelvic ganglia (MPGs) of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as it relates to erectile function. Materials and Methods Male rats were fed high-fat diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 low-dose injections of streptozotocin (20 mg/kg). In 3 groups (controls, 3-week, or 5-week T2DM), erectile function was measured by ratios of intracavernosal pressure to mean arterial pressure after cavernous nerve stimulation. MPGs were harvested, and gene expressions of neurotrophic factor 3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, caspase-1, -3, -9, beta tubulin type III, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additional MPGs were harvested and cultured in Matrigel. Neurite outgrowth from the MPG was evaluated at 48 hours after culture. Results Erectile function was significantly decreased in all rats with T2DM. Gene expressions of neurotrophic factor 3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were slightly lower at 3 weeks and significantly lower at 5 weeks after T2DM induction. Gene expression of apoptotic markers caspase-1, -3, -9, and neuronal markers beta tubulin type III and neuronal nitric oxide synthase remained unchanged. Rats with T2DM had shorter neurite length and less neurite sprouting than did the control MPG. Conclusion Early-stage T2DM downregulates neurotrophic factors, induces erectile dysfunction, and impairs MPG neurite outgrowth, suggesting that erectile dysfunction may be prevented by supplementing neurotrophic factors at early-stage T2DM.

Androgens initiate a complex network of signals within the UGS that trigger prostate lineage commitment and bud formation. Given its contributions to organogenesis in other systems, we investigated a role for canonical Wnt signaling in prostate development. We developed a new method to achieve complete deletion of beta-catenin, the transcriptional coactivator required for canonical Wnt signaling, in early prostate development. Beta-catenin deletion abrogated canonical Wnt signaling and yielded prostate rudiments that exhibited dramatically decreased budding and failed to adopt prostatic identity. This requirement for canonical Wnt signaling was limited to a brief critical period during the initial molecular phase of prostate identity specification. Deletion of beta-catenin in the adult prostate did not significantly affect organ homeostasis. Collectively, these data establish that beta-catenin and Wnt signaling play key roles in prostate lineage specification and bud outgrowth.

Zhenhua Huang 1,2,3 , Paula J Hurley 1 , Brian W Simons 1,2,3 , Luigi Marchionni 2,3 , David M Berman 1,2,3 , Ashley E Ross 1 and Edward M Schaeffer 1,2,3 1 Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2 Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3 Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. Received: June 26, 2012; Accepted: June 30, 2012; Published: July 2, 2012; Keywords: Sox9, prostate, development, cancer, initiation Correspondence: Edward M Schaeffer, email: // // Abstract Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the second leading cause of death from cancer in men. The molecular mechanisms driving prostate carcinogenesis are complex; with several lines of evidence suggesting that the re-expression of conserved developmental programs plays a key role. In this study, we used conditional gene targeting and organ grafting, to describe conserved roles for the transcription factor Sox9 in the initiation of both prostate organogenesis and prostate carcinogenesis in murine models. Abrogation of Sox9 expression prior to the initiation of androgen signaling blocks the initiation of prostate development. Similarly, Sox9 deletion in two genetic models of prostate cancer (TRAMP and Hi-Myc) prevented cancer initiation. Expression profiling of Sox9-null prostate epithelial cells revealed that the role of Sox9 in the initiation of prostate development may relate to its regulation of multiple cytokeratins and cell adherence/polarity. Due to its essential role in cancer initiation, manipulation of Sox9 targets in at-risk men may prove useful in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer.

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Sexual function is often impaired after radical prostatectomy (RP) resulting in reduced sexual activity and sexual bother. The main focus in the literature concerning sexual adverse effects has been on erectile dysfunction and impairment of sexual function rather than the actual sexual bother it causes, although the sexual bother is most important to the individual patient’s quality of life. The relation between these measures, and in particular pre-operative prediction of post-operative sexual bother, has only been studied limitedly and with varying results. Some studies have found good mental health, low levels of pre-operative sexual bother, and higher education to be associated with absence of post-operative sexual bother, but another study could not identify any pre-operative predictors of a post-operative sexual bother. Severe sexual bother after RP were reported by 64% to 95% of the patients three years after operation, and the prevalence was associated with the level of pre-treatment sexual bother and pre-operative nerve-preservation. On the other hand, others have reported that only 43% of men have sexual bother 2 years after RP. However, none of these studies stratified patients according to their pre-operative sexual activity and most of them were American. It has been shown that American findings concerning sexual bother may not always be valid for non-American patients due to differing sex role expectations thus warranting the need for more non-American studies. This study has shown that two thirds of patients experienced sexual bother one year after RP. We have identified patients with increased risk of experiencing overall sexual bother post-operatively: those who report pre-operative sexual bother, those who are sexually active before RP, and those who display neurotic personality-traits. Another important finding was that the proportion of patients who experienced bother relevant to having impaired post-operative SF was significantly higher among pre-operatively sexually active patients than those who had been inactive. This study adds knowledge that patients’ pre-operative sexual activity, sexual bother and personality should be taken into account to be able to give individualized information about the risk of getting sexual bother after RP. OBJECTIVES • To evaluate the cytotoxicity of dimeric naphthoquinones (BiQs) in prostate cancer cells. • To assess the interaction of dimeric naphthoquinones with common therapies including radiation and docetaxel. MATERIALS AND METHODS • The cytotoxicity of 12 different dimeric naphthoquinones was assessed in androgen-independent (PC-3, DU-145) and androgen-responsive (LNCaP, 22RV1) prostate cancer cell lines and in prostate epithelial cells (PrECs). • BiQ2 and BiQ11 were selected for determination of dose response, effects on colony formation and initial exploration into mechanism of action. • Synergistic effects with radiation and docetaxel were explored using colony-forming and MTT assays. RESULTS • At concentrations of 15µM, BiQ2, BiQ3, BiQ11, BiQ12, and BiQ15 demonstrated cytotoxicity in all prostate cancer cell lines. • Treatment with BiQs limited the ability of prostate cancer cells to form colonies in clonogenic assays. • Exposure of prostate cancer to BiQs increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased ATP production, and promoted apoptosis. • BiQ cytotoxicity was independent of NADP(H):quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity in PrECs, PC-3 and 22RV1, but not DU-145 cells. • Exposure of prostate cancer cells to radiation before treatment with BiQs increased their activity allowing for inhibitory effects well below the IC50s of these compounds in PrECs. • Co-administration of BiQs with docetaxel had minimal additive effects. CONCLUSIONS • Dimeric naphthoquinones represent a new class of compounds with prostate cancer cytotoxicity and synergistic effects with radiation. The cytotoxic effect of these agents is probably contributed to by the accumulation of ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction. • Further studies are warranted to better characterize this class of potential chemo-therapeutics.

Odorant sensing G protein-coupled receptors (ORs) are the largest signaling family encoded by the mammalian genome. Historical understanding suggests these specialized receptors are only expressed on sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium and respond to external ligands involved in smell perception. More recently, olfactory-like chemosensory signaling has been found in a variety of non-sensory tissues and shown to be evoked by endogenous metabolic byproducts of anaerobic bacteria and hypoxia. Here we screened the full complement of ORs in the prostate and studied their expression and function in the context of metastatic-invasion of prostate cancer (PCa). In the germline of men with lethal PCa, we detected a large number of nonsynonymous coding changes in ~400 different OR genes including specific missense and loss-of-function mutations that are present in higher rates than would be predicted. RNA-Seq of clinical prostate samples showed higher OR51E2 expression in localized PCa than normal prostate. Most striking, we detected a low abundance of the OR51E2 transcript in PCa metastases to the bone relative to localized. Similarly, we found a marked reduction of OR51E2 expression in PCa cell lines that were derived from bone metastases, or those that had undergone an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype through co-culture with IL4-treated CD14+ monocytes. Using mouse models of PCa metastasis, we confirmed the overexpression of OR51E2 in localized tumors generated by subcutaneous injection while observing a marked reduction in PCa cells metastatic to the bone that also demonstrated a mesenchymal cellular phenotype. Together these findings establish, for the first time, a novel role for ‘sensory GPCRs' in PCa progression to metastasis. Grant supports: The Johns Hopkins Discovery Award; The Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award; Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund Citation Format: Hong Lam, Wanqu Zhu, Hailun Wang, Jun Luo, Qizhi Zheng, Ken Valkenburg, Paula Hurley, Jennifer L. Pluznick, Phuoc T. Tran, Angelo M. De Marzo, William B. Isaacs, Kenneth J. Pienta, Steven S. An. A role for olfactory-like chemosensory signaling in prostate cancer metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1094.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-like kinases (PIKKs) ATM and ATR activate a complex signaling network in response to diverse forms of DNA damage. Initial characterization of these signaling molecules focused on the individual role that each plays in response to specific types of DNA lesions. Recently, a more integrated view of the DNA-damage signaling network has emerged. ATM- and ATR-activated signaling pathways once appeared parallel, but new findings suggest that this cellular circuitry is highly interconnected. Communication between ATM and ATR enables the cell to respond to DNA strand breaks and inhibition of DNA synthesis with coordinated, highly modulated outputs. In this article, we focus on several new developments that give insight into the integrated processing of diverse signals that arise during the damage and replication of DNA.

A defining hallmark of primary and metastatic cancers is the migration and invasion of malignant cells. These invasive properties involve altered dynamics of the cytoskeleton and one of its major structural components β-actin. Here we identify AIM1 (absent in melanoma 1) as an actin-binding protein that suppresses pro-invasive properties in benign prostate epithelium. Depletion of AIM1 in prostate epithelial cells increases cytoskeletal remodeling, intracellular traction forces, cell migration and invasion, and anchorage-independent growth. In addition, decreased AIM1 expression results in increased metastatic dissemination in vivo. AIM1 strongly associates with the actin cytoskeleton in prostate epithelial cells in normal tissues, but not in prostate cancers. In addition to a mislocalization of AIM1 from the actin cytoskeleton in invasive cancers, advanced prostate cancers often harbor AIM1 deletion and reduced expression. These findings implicate AIM1 as a key suppressor of invasive phenotypes that becomes dysregulated in primary and metastatic prostate cancer., Invasion of malignant cells involves changes in cytoskeleton dynamics. Here the authors identify absent in melanoma 1 as an actin binding protein and show that it regulates cytoskeletal remodeling and cell migration in prostate epithelial cells, acting as a metastatic suppressor in cancer cells.

Objectives Circulating plasma DNA is being increasingly used for biomedical and clinical research as a substrate for genetic testing. However, cell lysis can occur hours after venipuncture when using standard tubes for blood collection, leading to an increase in contaminating cellular DNA that may hinder analysis of circulating plasma DNA. Cell stabilization agents can prevent cellular lysis for several days, reducing the need for immediate plasma preparation after venipuncture, thereby facilitating the ease of blood collection and sample preparation for clinical research. However, the majority of cell stabilizing reagents have not been formally tested for their ability to preserve circulating plasma tumor DNA. Design & methods In this study, we compared the properties of two cell stabilizing reagents, the cell-free DNA BCT tube and the PAXgene tube, by collecting blood samples from metastatic breast cancer patients and measuring genome equivalents of plasma DNA by droplet digital PCR. We compared wild type PIK3CA genome equivalents and also assayed for two PIK3CA hotspot mutations, E545K and H1047R. Results Our results demonstrate that blood stored for 7 days in BCT tubes did not show evidence of cell lysis, whereas PAXgene tubes showed an order of magnitude increase in genome equivalents, indicative of considerable cellular lysis. Conclusions We conclude that BCT tubes can prevent lysis and cellular release of genomic DNA of blood samples from cancer patients when stored at room temperature, and could therefore be of benefit for blood specimen collections in clinical trials.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men due to the subset of cancers that progress to metastasis. Prostate cancers are thought to be hardwired to androgen receptor (AR) signaling, but AR-regulated changes in the prostate that facilitate metastasis remain poorly understood. We previously noted a marked reduction in secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine-like 1 (SPARCL1) expression during invasive phases of androgen-induced prostate growth, suggesting that this may be a novel invasive program governed by AR. Herein, we show that SPARCL1 loss occurs concurrently with AR amplification or overexpression in patient-based data. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SPARCL1 expression is directly suppressed by androgen-induced AR activation and binding at the SPARCL1 locus via an epigenetic mechanism, and these events can be pharmacologically attenuated with either AR antagonists or HDAC inhibitors. We establish using the Hi-Myc model of prostate cancer that in Hi-Myc/Sparcl1−/− mice, SPARCL1 functions to suppress cancer formation. Moreover, metastatic progression of Myc-CaP orthotopic allografts is restricted by SPARCL1 in the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, we show that SPARCL1 both tethers to collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and binds to the cell's cytoskeleton. SPARCL1 directly inhibits the assembly of focal adhesions, thereby constraining the transmission of cell traction forces. Our findings establish a new insight into AR-regulated prostate epithelial movement and provide a novel framework whereby SPARCL1 in the ECM microenvironment restricts tumor progression by regulating the initiation of the network of physical forces that may be required for metastatic invasion of prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 75(20); 4322–34. ©2015 AACR.

The energy that sustains cancer cells is derived preferentially from glycolysis. This metabolic change, the Warburg effect, was one of the first alterations in cancer cells recognized as conferring a survival advantage. Here, we show that p53, one of the most frequently mutated genes in cancers, modulates the balance between the utilization of respiratory and glycolytic pathways. We identify Synthesis of Cytochrome c Oxidase 2 (SCO2) as the downstream mediator of this effect in mice and human cancer cell lines. SCO2 is critical for regulating the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) complex, the major site of oxygen utilization in the eukaryotic cell. Disruption of theSCO2gene in human cancer cells with wild-type p53 recapitulated the metabolic switch toward glycolysis that is exhibited by p53-deficient cells. That SCO2 couples p53 to mitochondrial respiration provides a possible explanation for the Warburg effect and offers new clues as to how p53 might affect aging and metabolism.

Tamoxifen is effective for treating estrogen receptor-alpha (ER) positive breast cancers. However, few molecular mediators of tamoxifen resistance have been elucidated. Here we describe a previously unidentified gene, MACROD2 that confers tamoxifen resistance and estrogen independent growth. We found MACROD2 is amplified and overexpressed in metastatic tamoxifen-resistant tumors. Transgene overexpression of MACROD2 in breast cancer cell lines results in tamoxifen resistance, whereas RNAi-mediated gene knock down reverses this phenotype. MACROD2 overexpression also leads to estrogen independent growth in xenograft assays. Mechanistically, MACROD2 increases p300 binding to estrogen response elements in a subset of ER regulated genes. Primary breast cancers and matched metastases demonstrate MACROD2 expression can change with disease evolution, and increased expression and amplification of MACROD2 in primary tumors is associated with worse overall survival. These studies establish MACROD2 as a key mediator of estrogen independent growth and tamoxifen resistance, as well as a potential novel target for diagnostics and therapy.

Background: Though about half of newly diagnosed prostate cancer may not require immediate treatment, it remains the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States indicating a need for novel preventive and therapeutic treatments. Here we use expression based analysis to identify “druggable” targets which were then used to tailor screens for commercially available candidate inhibitors of prostate cancer. Methods: A list of 537 differentially expressed genes was developed by comparing expression profiles of prostate cancer from men with high risk localized disease that either metastasized or was cured following radical prostatectomy. Differentially expressed genes were compared to PharmGKB and Drugbank to link them to commercially available drugs. Identified drugs were assessed for their effects on cell viability, migration and invasion in androgen responsive and independent prostate cancer cell lines and in an ex-vivo embryonic development assay of prostate epithelial invasion. Results: Putative prostate cancer inhibitors roughly grouped into anti-neoplastic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, statins, beta- blockers/beta-agonists, aldosterone/ATII inhibitors, catecholamine pathway related drugs, anti-platelets, immunosuppresants, leukotriene antagonists and anti-diabetic drugs. Multiple classes of drugs inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in prostate cancer cell lines with individual inhibitors in each group having disparate effects. A subset of drugs showed significant inhibition of cell migration, including Celecoxib, Metformin, Simvastatin, Iressa and Sunitinib. In addition, inhibition of prostate cell invasion into the surrounding mesenchyme was seen with several agents including Sorafenib and Metformin. Conclusions: Use of gene expression data and bioinformatics allowed for smaller scale screening of inhibitors enriched for putative effects on prostate cancer. Through these methods we identified inhibitors already shown to effect prostate cancer and in addition currently available drugs with previously unknown effects on prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES B7-H3 (CD276), part of the B7 superfamily, has been shown to play an immunomodulatory role, however its regulation, receptor and mechanism of action remain unclear. Protein levels of B7-H3 have been previously shown to relate to prostate cancer outcomes and currently, humanized monoclonal antibodies are being developed for clinical use (MGA271, Macrogenics). Here we use genomic expression data to examine the relationship of B7-H3 to prostate cancer outcomes, and molecular subtypes and explore its relationship to other gene sets and pathways. METHODS Prostatectomy tissue from 905 patients were profiled using the Affymetrix HuEx 1.0 ST microarray. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to identify significant associations of B7-H3 expression with clinico-pathologic variables, and survival analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic value of B7-H3. Pearson’s correlation analyses were also performed to assess the relationship of B7-H3 expression with molecular subtypes and individual transcripts. Androgen receptor (AR) occupancy of promoter regions was derived in silico from chromosomal immune- precipitation (ChIP) data. RESULTS B7-H3 expression was positively associated with Gleason score (p < 0.01) and tumor stage (p < 0.01). High B7-H3 expression also correlated with the development of metastasis and prostate cancer specific mortality (HR of 3.4 and 2.4 respectively, p < 0.05 for both), but this was not significant on multi-variable analysis. B7-H3 was positively associated with ERG+ disease (n = 670, r = 0.85, p < 0.05) and AR expression (n = 670, r = 0.46, p < 0.001). B7-H3 was found to be one of the most correlated genes with AR (95th percentile) and ChIP analysis revealed androgen dependent AR binding upstream of B7-H3. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated a positive correlation with androgen signaling and a negative correlation with the defensins reactome (FDR

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among United States men. However, disease aggressiveness is varied, with low-grade disease often being indolent and high-grade cancer accounting for the greatest density of deaths. Outcomes are also disparate among men with high-grade prostate cancer, with upwards of 65% having disease recurrence even after primary treatment. Identification of men at risk for recurrence and elucidation of the molecular processes that drive their disease is paramount, as these men are the most likely to benefit from multimodal therapy. We previously showed that androgen-induced expression profiles in prostate development are reactivated in aggressive prostate cancers. Herein, we report the down-regulation of one such gene, Sparcl1 , a secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) family matricellular protein, during invasive phases of prostate development and regeneration. We further demonstrate a parallel process in prostate cancer, with decreased expression of SPARCL1 in high-grade/metastatic prostate cancer. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SPARCL1 loss increases the migratory and invasive properties of prostate cancer cells through Ras homolog gene family, member C (RHOC), a known mediator of metastatic progression. By using models incorporating clinicopathologic parameters to predict prostate cancer recurrence after treatment, we show that SPARCL1 loss is a significant, independent prognostic marker of disease progression. Thus, SPARCL1 is a potent regulator of cell migration/invasion and its loss is independently associated with prostate cancer recurrence.

IIEF Question/Domain Spearman’s Rho p-value How Often Able To Get Erection During Sexual Activity -0.246 0.023 Erections Able To Penetrate -0.258 0.017 Difficulty Of Maintaining Erection To Completion -0.214 0.050 How Many Times Attempted Intercourse? -0.218 0.044 Attempted Sexual Intercourse Satisfactory -0.233 0.032 How Often Did You Ejaculate? -0.294 0.006 How Often Orgasm? -0.261 0.016 How Often Felt Sexual Desire? -0.221 0.042 Sexual Desire Rating -0.220 0.043 Overall Sexual Life Satisfaction -0.227 0.037 Sexual Relationship Satisfaction Level -0.242 0.026 Get And Keep Erection Confidence Level -0.224 0.039 Erectile Function Domain -0.214 0.049 Orgasmic Function Domain -0.280 0.009 Sexual Desire Domain -0.217 0.046 Intercourse Satisfaction Domain -0.243 0.025 Overall Satisfaction Domain -0.238 0.029

PURPOSE: The increasing incidence of hypospadias is partly attributed to increased gestational exposure to endocrine disruptors. We investigated the effects of genistein, the primary phytoestrogen in soy, on the molecular program of male urethral development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female mice were fed diets supplemented with genistein (500 mg/kg diet) or control diets before breeding and throughout gestation. Urethras from embryonic day 17.5 male fetuses were harvested, and RNA was prepared, amplified, labeled and hybridized on whole genome microarrays. Data were analyzed using packages from the R/Bioconductor project. Immunohistochemical analysis and immunoblotting were used to confirm the activity of MAPK and the presence of Ntrk1 and Ntrk2 during urethral development. RESULTS: Gestational exposure to genistein altered the urethral expression of 277 genes (p

The S-phase checkpoint is activated when DNA damage occurs during DNA synthesis or when DNA replication intermediates accumulate. Depending on the type and magnitude of damage, cells activate one of the three distinct S-phase checkpoint pathways: (1) an intra-S-phase checkpoint induced by double strand break, (2) a replication checkpoint by the stalled replication fork, and (3) a S–M checkpoint to block premature mitosis. These checkpoint pathways coordinate a network of signaling molecules and are thought to ensure the fidelity of the replicating genome.

The vast majority of cancer cells have defective checkpoints that permit the cell cycle to progress in the presence of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) caused by ionizing radiation (IR) and radiomimetic drugs. ATR (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related) has recently been shown to be activated by DSBs, although the consequences of this activity are largely unknown. In this report, we use advanced gene targeting methods to generate biallelic hypomorphic ATR mutations in human colorectal cancer cells and demonstrate that progression of the cancer cell cycle after IR treatment requires ATR. Cells with mutant ATR accumulated at a defined point at the beginning of the S phase after IR treatment and were unable to progress beyond that point, whereas cells at later stages of the S phase during the time of irradiation progressed and completed DNA replication. The prolonged arrest of ATR mutant cancer cells did not involve the ataxia telangiectasia mutated-dependent S-phase checkpoint, but rather closely resembled a previously characterized form of cell cycle arrest termed S-phase stasis. As ATR strongly contributed to clonogenic survival after IR treatment, these data suggest that blocking ATR activity might be a useful strategy for inducing S-phase stasis and promoting the radiosensitization of checkpoint-deficient cancer cells.

A20 is a cytoplasmic protein required for the termination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced signals. We show here that mice doubly deficient in either A20 and TNF or A20 and TNF receptor 1 developed spontaneous inflammation, indicating that A20 is also critical for the regulation of TNF-independent signals in vivo. A20 was required for the termination of Toll-like receptor-induced activity of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and proinflammatory gene expression in macrophages, and this function protected mice from endotoxic shock. A20 accomplished this biochemically by directly removing ubiquitin moieties from the signaling molecule TRAF6. The critical function of this deubiquitinating enzyme in the restriction of TLR signals emphasizes the importance of the regulation of ubiquitin conjugation in innate immune cells.

Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors in the generation of human knockout cell lines. The efficiency with which such cell lines can be generated using rAAV, in comparison with more extensively described plasmid-based approaches, has not been directly tested. In this report, we demonstrate that targeting constructs delivered by rAAV vectors were nearly 25-fold more efficient than transfected plasmids that target the same exon. In addition, we describe a novel vector configuration which we term the synthetic exon promoter trap (SEPT). This targeting element further improved the efficiency of knockout generation and uniquely facilitated the generation of knockin alterations. An rAAV-based SEPT targeting construct was used to transfer a mutant CTNNB1 allele, encoding an oncogenic form of beta-catenin, from one cell line to another. This versatile method was thus shown to facilitate the efficient integration of small, defined sequence alterations into the chromosomes of cultured human cells.

Corrigendum: The ubiquitin-modifying enzyme A20 is required for termination of Toll-like receptor responses