Progesterone signaling inhibits cervical carcinogenesis in mice.

Human papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer, yet other nonviral cofactors are also required for the disease. The uterine cervix is a hormone-responsive tissue, and female hormones have been implicated in cervical carcinogenesis. A transgenic mouse model expressing human papillomavirus oncogenes E6 and/or E7 has proven useful to study a mechanism of hormone actions in the context of this common malignancy. Estrogen and estrogen receptor α are required for the development of cervical cancer in this mouse model. Estrogen receptor α is known to up-regulate expression of the progesterone receptor, which, on activation by its ligands, either promotes or inhibits carcinogenesis, depending on the tissue context. Here, we report that progesterone receptor inhibits cervical and vaginal epithelial cell proliferation in a ligand-dependent manner. We also report that synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate promotes regression of cancers and precancerous lesions in the female lower reproductive tracts (ie, cervix and vagina) in the human papillomavirus transgenic mouse model. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that supports the hypothesis that progesterone signaling is inhibitory for cervical carcinogenesis in vivo.

The effects of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway components on non-small-cell lung cancer progression and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: Researchers in recent studies have reported that the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays a crucial role during tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and cellular differentiation. We investigated the clinical and pathological significances of the Shh pathway and of its lymphangiogenic components in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), namely, Shh, glioma-associated oncogene homolog zinc finger protein 1 (Gli1), lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D). METHODS: The expression of Shh, Gli1, LYVE-1 and VEGF-D in primary NSCLC tissue from 40 patients was examined using immunohistochemical assays, and relationships between expression and clinicopathological data, such as age, gender, histology, tumor size, nodal stage, visceral pleural invasion, lymphatic thromboembolism, recurrence and overall survival were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 40 specimens examined, 25 (62.5%), 20 (50.0%), 11 (27.5%) and 20 (50.0%) were positive for Shh, Gli1, LYVE-1 or VEGF-D expression, respectively. The expression of Gli1 and LYVE-1 were significantly associated (P = 0.011), and Shh and LYVE-1 expression was related to visceral pleural invasion and lymphatic thromboembolism, respectively (P < 0.05). Shh expression levels compared on survival curves were statistically significant in univariate logrank analysis (P = 0.020). However, other clinicopathological factors did not reveal any statistical significance in univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this the first report of the relationship between components of the Shh signaling pathway and prognosis in NSCLC. The expression of Shh, Gli1 and LYVE-1 was found to be associated with clinicopathological factors and survival. Thus, the overexpression of the Shh signaling pathway could serve as a predictor of malignant behavior, including lymphangiogenesis, in NSCLC.

Asparagine Dependency is a Targetable Metabolic Vulnerability in TP53-Altered Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

The TP53 tumor suppressor is frequently altered in lethal, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, to date there are no effective treatments that specifically target TP53 alterations. Using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we showed here that TP53-altered prostate cancer (PCa) exhibits an increased dependency on asparagine and overexpresses asparagine synthetase (ASNS), the enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of asparagine. Mechanistically, loss or mutation of TP53 transcriptionally activated ASNS expression, directly as well as via mTORC1-mediated ATF4 induction, driving de novo asparagine biosynthesis to support CRPC growth. TP53-altered CRPC cells were sensitive to asparagine restriction by knockdown of ASNS or L-asparaginase treatment to deplete the intracellular and extracellular sources of asparagine, respectively, and cell viability was rescued by asparagine addition. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of intracellular asparagine biosynthesis using a glutaminase inhibitor and depletion of extracellular asparagine with L-asparaginase significantly reduced asparagine production and effectively impaired CRPC growth. This study highlights the significance of ASNS-mediated metabolic adaptation as a synthetic vulnerability in CRPC with TP53 alterations, providing a rationale for targeting asparagine production to treat these lethal prostate cancers.

Abrogation of Gli3 expression suppresses the growth of colon cancer cells via activation of p53.

p53, the major human tumor suppressor, appears to be related to sonic hedgehog (Shh)-Gli-mediated tumorigenesis. However, the role of p53 in tumor progression by the Shh-Gli signaling pathway is poorly understood. Herein we investigated the critical regulation of Gli3-p53 in tumorigenesis of colon cancer cells and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the mRNA level of Shh and Gli3 in colon tumor tissues was significantly higher than corresponding normal tissues (P<0.001). The inhibition of Gli3 by treatment with Gli3 siRNA resulted in a clear decrease in cell proliferation and enhanced the level of expression of p53 proteins compared to treatment with control siRNA. The half-life of p53 was dramatically increased by treatment with Gli3 siRNA. In addition, treatment with MG132 blocked MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and degradation, and led to accumulation of p53 in Gli3 siRNA-overexpressing cells. Importantly, ectopic expression of p53 siRNA reduced the ability of Gli3 siRNA to suppress proliferation of those cells compared with the cells treated with Gli3 siRNA alone. Moreover, Gli3 siRNA sensitized colon cancer cells to treatment with anti-cancer agents (5-FU and bevacizumab). Taken together, our studies demonstrate that loss of Gli3 signaling leads to disruption of the MDM2-p53 interaction and strongly potentiate p53-dependent cell growth inhibition in colon cancer cells, indicating a basis for the rational use of Gli3 antagonists as a novel treatment option for colon cancer.

Metastatic function of BMP-2 in gastric cancer cells: the role of PI3K/AKT, MAPK, the NF-κB pathway, and MMP-9 expression.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastatic progression in various types of cancer cells, but the role and cellular mechanism in the invasive phenotype of gastric cancer cells is not known. Herein, we determined the roles of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in BMP-2-mediated metastatic function in gastric cancer. We found that stimulation of BMP-2 in gastric cancer cells enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK. Accompanying activation of AKT and ERK kinase, BMP-2 also enhanced phosphorylation/degradation of IκBα and the nuclear translocation/activation of NF-κB. Interestingly, blockade of PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling using LY294002 and PD98059, respectively, significantly inhibited BMP-2-induced motility and invasiveness in association with the activation of NF-κB. Furthermore, BMP-2-induced MMP-9 expression and enzymatic activity was also significantly blocked by treatment with PI3K/AKT, ERK, or NF-κB inhibitors. Immunohistochemistry staining of 178 gastric tumor biopsies indicated that expression of BMP-2 and MMP-9 had a significant positive correlation with lymph node metastasis and a poor prognosis. These results indicate that the BMP-2 signaling pathway enhances tumor metastasis in gastric cancer by sequential activation of the PI3K/AKT or MAPK pathway followed by the induction of NF-κB and MMP-9 activity, indicating that BMP-2 has the potential to be a therapeutic molecular target to decrease metastasis.

A Genome-Wide CRISPR Activation Screen Identifies PRRX2 as a Regulator of Enzalutamide Resistance in Prostate Cancer.

Androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors are the mainstay treatment for advanced prostate cancer, but resistance to therapy is common. Here, we used a CRISPR activation screen in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer cells to identify genes that promote resistance to AR inhibitors. Activation of the TGFß target gene paired-related homeobox2 (PRRX2) promoted enzalutamide resistance. PRRX2 expression was the highest in double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC), which lack AR signaling and neuroendocrine differentiation, and a PRRX2-related gene signature identified a subset of patients with DNPC with reduced overall survival. PRRX2-expressing cells showed alterations in the CDK4/6/Rb/E2F and BCL2 pathways. Accordingly, treatment with CDK4/6 and BCL2 inhibitors sensitized PRRX2-expressing, castration-resistant tumors to enzalutamide. Overall, PRRX2 was identified as a driver of enzalutamide resistance. The PRRX2 signature merits investigation as a biomarker of enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer that could be reversed with CDK4/6 and BCL2 inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE: PRRX2 mediates enzalutamide resistance via activation of the E2F and BCL2 pathways, which can be targeted with CDK4/6 and BCL2 inhibitors to reverse resistance.

BMP2 accelerates the motility and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells via activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway.

Up-regulation of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their receptors by tumor is an important hallmark in cancer progression, as it contributes through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms to tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. Generally, increased motility and invasion are positively correlated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether BMP-2 signaling to induce gastric cancer cells to undergo EMT-mediated invasion might pass through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Herein we showed that gastric cancer cell lines express all the components of BMP-2 signaling, albeit to different extents. Moreover, an increased concentration of BMP-2 strongly enhanced motility and invasiveness in gastric cancer cells, whereas no increase was observed in cells treated with either Noggin (a BMP-2 inhibitor) or BMP-2 blocking antibodies. The stimulation of BMP-2 in gastric cancer cells induces a full EMT characterized by Snail induction, E-cadherin delocalization and down-regulation, and up-regulation of mesenchymal and invasiveness markers. Furthermore, blockade of BMP-2 signaling by Noggin or BMP-2 blocking antibodies also restored these changes in EMT markers. In addition, phosphorylation of Akt was also enhanced by treatment with BMP-2, but not Noggin or BMP-2 blocking antibodies. Pretreatment of gastric cancer cells with PI-3 kinase/Akt kinase inhibitor (kinase-dead Akt [DN-Akt], Akt siRNA, or LY294002) significantly inhibited BMP-2-induced EMT and invasiveness. Overall, our studies suggest that BMP-2 promotes motility and invasion of gastric cancer cells by activating PI-3 kinase/Akt and that targeting of this signaling pathway may provide therapeutic opportunities in preventing metastasis mediated by BMP-2.

Activated ALK Cooperates with N-Myc via Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling to Induce Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive subtype of prostate cancer with poor prognosis, and there is a critical need for novel therapeutic approaches. NEPC is associated with molecular perturbation of several pathways, including amplification of MYCN. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma and other malignancies where it cooperates with N-Myc. We previously identified the first case of ALK F1174C-activating mutation in a patient with de novo NEPC who responded to the ALK inhibitor, alectinib. Here, we show that coactivation of ALK and N-Myc (ALK F1174C/N-Myc) is sufficient to transform mouse prostate basal stem cells into aggressive prostate cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation in a tissue recombination model. A novel gene signature from the ALK F1174C/N-Myc tumors was associated with poor outcome in multiple human prostate cancer datasets. ALK F1174C and ALK F1174C/N-Myc tumors displayed activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Chemical and genetic ALK inhibition suppressed Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and tumor growth in vitro in NEPC and neuroblastoma cells. ALK inhibition cooperated with Wnt inhibition to suppress NEPC and neuroblastoma proliferation in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. These findings point to a role for ALK signaling in NEPC and the potential of cotargeting the ALK and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways in ALK-driven tumors. Activated ALK and N-Myc are well known drivers in neuroblastoma development, suggesting potential similarities and opportunities to elucidate mechanisms and therapeutic targets in NEPC and vice versa. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings demonstrate that coactivation of ALK and N-Myc induces NEPC by stimulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, which can be targeted therapeutically.

Sustained co-cultivation with human placenta-derived MSCs enhances ALK5/Smad3 signaling in human breast epithelial cells, leading to EMT and differentiation.

The interaction between mammary epithelial cells and their surrounding microenvironment are important in the development of the mammary gland. Thus, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which retain pluripotency for various mesenchymal lineages, may provide a permissive environment for the morphologic alteration and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. To this end, we investigated whether the interactions between mammary epithelial cells and human placenta-derived MSCs (hPMSC) affect the morphology, proliferation, and differentiation of epithelial cells in a co-culture system. We show that after co-culture with hPMSCs, human mammary epithelial cell lines (MCF-10F and HEMC) underwent significant morphologic alterations and a dramatic increase in ductal-alveolar branching, which was accompanied by a decrease or loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and a gain of the mesenchymal markers, alpha-SMA and vimentin. MCF-10F and HEMC proliferation was also inhibited in the presence of hPMSCs, and this retardation in growth was due to cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, in MCF-10F and HMEC cells, hPMSCs induced the production of lipid droplets, milk fat globule protein, and milk protein lactoferrin, which are markers of functional mammary differentiation. We also noticed an elevation in ALK5 and phosphorylated Smad3 protein levels upon hPMSC co-culture. Strikingly, the changes in morphology, proliferation, and differentiation were reversed by treatment with ALK5 or Smad3 knockdown in MCF-10F/hPMSC co-cultures. Collectively, our findings suggest that co-cultivation with hPMSCs leads to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and differentiation of human breast epithelial cells through the ALK5/Smad3 signaling pathway.

The functional implications of Akt activity and TGF-beta signaling in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

Development of acquired resistance to tamoxifen is a major clinical problem during endocrine treatment in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) has been implicated in tamoxifen-induced cellular signaling in breast cancer, and increased Akt activation is associated with tamoxifen-resistant cell types. We hypothesized that the relationship between TGF-beta and Akt signaling may be involved in the development and progression of tamoxifen resistance. Tamoxifen-resistant (Tam-R) cells were established from parental MCF-7 cells by continuously exposing them to 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Tam-R cells were associated with a decrease in TGF-beta1 secretion, TGF-beta-mediated transcriptional response, and growth inhibitory effects of 4-OHT. Tam-R cells expressed significantly higher levels of phosphorylated Akt and lower levels of phosphorylated Smad 3 in both the absence and presence of 4-OHT when compared to MCF-7 cells treated with 4-OHT. Ectopic expression of constitutively active Akt (Myc-Akt(Myr)) rendered MCF-7 cells resistant to activation by TGF-beta and the growth inhibitory effects of 4-OHT, while over-expression of kinase-dead Akt (Myc-Akt(K179M)) or LY294002 treatment of Tam-R cells enhanced TGF-beta activation and blocked cell growth. These results suggest that suppression of TGF-beta signaling by activated Akt is correlated with the development of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

Inhibition of PI3 kinase/Akt pathway is required for BMP2-induced EMT and invasion.

Although dysregulation of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling has been linked to various types of cancers, the relationship between abnormal activation of these signaling pathways and tumorigenesis is not clear. The purpose of the current study was to clarify how BMP2 is involved in colon cancer aggressiveness. The data showed that SW480 and DLD-1 cells displayed different responses to short- and long-term exposure to BMP2. During the first 24 h of exposure to BMP2, these cells were growth-inhibited, whereas surviving cells became resistant to growth inhibition, showing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and enhanced motility and invasiveness. Interestingly, in highly metastatic mesenchymal colon carcinoma cells (CT26), blockade of BMP2 signaling by BMP2 siRNA prevented EMT, motility and invasiveness; rather, blockade of BMP2 signaling caused a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). The levels of phosphorylated Akt were very different between the two cell types; the BMP2-sensitive SW480 and DLD-1 cells had much higher levels of expression than the BMP2-resistant SW480 and DLD-1 and CT26 cells. CT26 cells, following exposure to BMP2 and activation of Akt, escaped the EMT-induced cellular motility and invasiveness. Moreover, LY294002 treatment of BMP2-sensitive SW480 cells blocked cell growth and enhanced motility and invasiveness. Together, these results suggest that suppression of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway is correlated with the development of BMP2 resistance and invasion in BMP2-induced EMT in colon cancer.

The Role of Castration-Resistant Bmi1+Sox2+ Cells in Driving Recurrence in Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence following androgen-deprivation therapy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in prostate cancer, but the cellular origins and molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly defined. We previously identified a population of castration-resistant luminal progenitor cells expressing Bmi1 in the normal mouse prostate that can serve as a cancer cell-of-origin. Here, we investigate the potential of Bmi1-expressing tumor cells that survive castration to initiate recurrence in vivo. METHODS: We employed lineage retracing in Bmi1-CreER; R26R-confetti; Ptenf/f transgenic mice to mark and follow the fate of emerging recurrent tumor clones after castration. A tissue recombination strategy was used to rescue transgenic mouse prostates by regeneration as grafts in immunodeficient hosts. We also used a small molecule Bmi1 inhibitor, PTC-209, to directly test the role of Bmi1 in recurrence. RESULTS: Transgenic prostate tumors (n = 17) regressed upon castration but uniformly recurred within 3 months. Residual regressed tumor lesions exhibited a transient luminal-to-basal phenotypic switch and marked cellular heterogeneity. Additionally, in these lesions, a subpopulation of Bmi1-expressing castration-resistant tumor cells overexpressed the stem cell reprogramming factor Sox2 (mean [SD] = 41.1 [3.8]%, n = 10, P < .001). Bmi1+Sox2+ cells were quiescent (BrdU+Bmi1+Sox2+ at 3.4 [1.5]% vs BrdU+Bmi1+Sox2- at 18.8 [3.4]%, n = 10, P = .009), consistent with a cancer stem cell phenotype. By lineage retracing, we established that recurrence emerges from the Bmi1+ tumor cells in regressed tumors. Furthermore, treatment with the small molecule Bmi1 inhibitor PTC-209 reduced Bmi1+Sox2+ cells (6.1 [1.4]% PTC-209 vs 38.8 [2.3]% vehicle, n = 10, P < .001) and potently suppressed recurrence (retraced clone size = 2.6 [0.5] PTC-209 vs 15.7 [5.9] vehicle, n = 12, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: These results illustrate the utility of lineage retracing to define the cellular origins of recurrent prostate cancer and identify Bmi1+Sox2+ cells as a source of recurrence that could be targeted therapeutically.

Small-Molecule MYC Inhibitors Suppress Tumor Growth and Enhance Immunotherapy.

Small molecules that directly target MYC and are also well tolerated in vivo will provide invaluable chemical probes and potential anti-cancer therapeutic agents. We developed a series of small-molecule MYC inhibitors that engage MYC inside cells, disrupt MYC/MAX dimers, and impair MYC-driven gene expression. The compounds enhance MYC phosphorylation on threonine-58, consequently increasing proteasome-mediated MYC degradation. The initial lead, MYC inhibitor 361 (MYCi361), suppressed in vivo tumor growth in mice, increased tumor immune cell infiltration, upregulated PD-L1 on tumors, and sensitized tumors to anti-PD1 immunotherapy. However, 361 demonstrated a narrow therapeutic index. An improved analog, MYCi975 showed better tolerability. These findings suggest the potential of small-molecule MYC inhibitors as chemical probes and possible anti-cancer therapeutic agents.

Sonic hedgehog signaling promotes motility and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells through TGF-beta-mediated activation of the ALK5-Smad 3 pathway.

It is known that the activation of hedgehog (Hh) signaling is involved in the progression and invasion of various tumors, including gastric carcinoma. In this study, we investigated the impact of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling on the sonic hedgehog (Shh)-mediated invasion of gastric cancer cells. We found that higher concentrations of N-Shh enhanced cell motility and invasiveness in gastric cancer cells, whereas no increase was observed in cells that were treated with KAAD-cyclopamine (a Shh signaling inhibitor) or anti-Shh blocking antibodies. In addition, the N-Shh-induced migration and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells were reduced by treatment with anti-TGF-beta blocking antibody or TGF-beta1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) in presence of N-Shh when compared with control groups. Furthermore, TGF-beta1 secretion, TGF-beta-mediated transcriptional response, expression of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) 5 protein and phosphorylation of Smad 3 were also enhanced by treatment with N-Shh, but not KAAD-cyclopamine, anti-Shh or TGF-beta1 blocking antibodies. Blockade of the ALK5 kinase in the presence of N-Shh significantly inhibited phosphorylation of Smad 3, activity of matrix metalloproteinases and Shh-induced cell motility/invasiveness. Importantly, transient expression of ALK5 siRNA or Smad 3 siRNA reduced the ability of N-Shh to stimulate migration and invasion of those cells compared with the cells treated with non-specific control siRNA. In summary, these results indicate that Shh promotes motility and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells through TGF-beta-mediated activation of the ALK5-Smad 3 pathway. Additionally, our findings are the first to suggest a role and mechanism for Shh signaling as it relates to the metastatic potential of gastric cancer, thereby indicating potential therapeutic molecular targets to decrease metastasis.

Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L41 suppresses cell growth in association with p53 and p27Kip1.

The p53 protein arrests the cell cycle at the G1 phase when stabilized by the interaction between ribosomal proteins and HDM2 under growth-inhibitory conditions. Meanwhile, p53, when translocated to the mitochondria in response to cell death signals, induces apoptosis via transcription-independent mechanisms. In this report, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial ribosomal protein L41 (MRPL41) enhances p53 stability and contributes to p53-induced apoptosis in response to growth-inhibitory conditions such as actinomycin D treatment and serum starvation. An analysis of MRPL41 expression in paired normal and tumor tissues revealed lower expression in tumor tissue. Ectopic MRPL41 expression resulted in inhibition of the growth of cancer cells in tissue culture and tumor growth in nude mice. We discovered that MRPL41 protein is localized in the mitochondria, stabilizes the p53 protein, and enhances its translocation to the mitochondria, thereby inducing apoptosis. Interestingly, in the absence of p53, MRPL41 stabilizes the p27(Kip1) protein and arrests the cell cycle at the G1 phase. These results suggest that MRPL41 plays an important role in p53-induced mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis and MRPL41 exerts a tumor-suppressive effect in association with p53 and p27 (Kip1).

Modeling African American prostate adenocarcinoma by inducing defined genetic alterations in organoids.

Genomic studies are rapidly identifying genetic alterations in human cancer, but functional validation of such alterations has been slow. Here, using human prostate cancer as a model, we have assessed the feasibility of engineering defined genetic alterations in well-known cancer driver genes to transform benign prostate epithelial organoids derived from African American men. Benign human prostate organoids were transduced with lentiviruses expressing MYC, shPTEN, shTP53 and AR, alone and in various combinations, to recapitulate prostate cancer development. Organoids expressing MYC, shPTEN, shTP53 and AR (denoted MPPA); MYC, shPTEN and shTP53 (MPP); or MYC (M) were significantly larger, had higher proliferation rates and demonstrated pathologically transformed morphology compared to organoids transduced with control lentivirus. Alterations in MYC, PTEN and TP53 also affected the rate of organoid basal-to-luminal differentiation in vitro. MPPA and MPP organoids expressed the clinical prostate cancer marker AMACR and developed prostate adenocarcinoma when grafted under the renal capsule in mice. These data indicate that genetic alterations commonly observed in human prostate cancer can be rapidly modeled in human organoid culture. Prostate cancer organoids provide a useful pre-clinical model for the evaluation of new candidate cancer genes, cancer disparities, and potentially for testing of novel therapeutic agents.

RASSF1A suppresses oncogenic H-Ras-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation.

The constitutive activation of JNK has been implicated in Ras-induced cellular transformation and activated JNK is down-regulated by the tumor suppressor protein, RASSF1A. In this study, we examined whether RASSF1A blocked oncogenic Ras-induced JNK activation. Exogenous expression of H-RasG12V induced JNK phosphorylation and RASSF1A co-transfected with H-RasG12V efficiently suppressed Ras-triggered JNK activation in various cancer cell lines. RASSF1A expression revived the H-RasG12V-induced p27Kip1 down-regulation. JNK siRNA treatment also promoted recovery from the H-RasG12V-induced p27Kip1 down-regulation. These results demonstrate that RASSF1A inhibited H-RasG12V-induced JNK activation and JNK-mediated p27Kip1 down-regulation. From these results, we propose that RASSF1A exerts a tumor-suppressing effect by blocking oncogenic Ras-induced JNK activation.

Bmi1 marks distinct castration-resistant luminal progenitor cells competent for prostate regeneration and tumour initiation.

Identification of defined cell populations with stem/progenitor properties is key for understanding prostate development and tumorigenesis. Here we show that the polycomb repressor protein Bmi1 marks a population of castration-resistant luminal epithelial cells enriched in the mouse proximal prostate. We employ lineage tracing to show that these castration-resistant Bmi1-expressing cells (or CARBs) are capable of tissue regeneration and self-renewal. Notably, CARBs are distinct from the previously described luminal castration-resistant Nkx3.1-expressing cells (CARNs). CARBs can serve as a prostate cancer cell-of-origin upon Pten deletion, yielding luminal prostate tumours. Clonal analysis using the R26R-confetti allele indicates preferential tumour initiation from CARBs localized to the proximal prostate. These studies identify Bmi1 as a marker for a distinct population of castration-resistant luminal epithelial cells enriched in the proximal prostate that can serve as a cell of origin for prostate cancer.

N'-(phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-methylene)-hydrazine carbodithioic acid methyl ester enhances radiation-induced cell death by targeting Bcl-2 against human lung carcinoma cells.

To develop a new radiosensitizer, we screened a chemical library and selected one chemical reagent, N'-(phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-methylene)-hydrazine carbodithioic acid methyl ester (PHCM), which was already known to have antifungal and antimicrobial properties. PHCM enhanced radiation-induced cell death and its mean calculated dose enhancement ratio was 1.17. PHCM was found to induce the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and combined treatment with PHCM and radiation down-regulated Bcl-2. In a xenograft assay, the combined PHCM and radiation group showed 39.3 days of growth delay versus the control in terms of tumor growth. The enhancement factor of this combined treatment was determined to be 4.02.