Abstract
The mechanism of prostate cancer (PCA) progression towards the hormone refractory state remains poorly understood. Treatment options for such patients are limited and present a major clinical challenge. Previously, δ-catenin was reported to promote PCA cell growth in vitro and its increased level is associated with PCA progression in vivo. In this study we show that re-arrangements at Catenin Delta 2 (CTNND2) locus, including gene duplications, are very common in clinically significant PCA and may underlie δ-catenin overexpression. We find that δ-catenin in PCA cells exists in a complex with E-cadherin, p120, and α- and β-catenin. Increased expression of δ-catenin leads to its further stabilization as well as upregulation and stabilization of its binding partners. Resistant to degradation and overexpressed δ-catenin isoform activates Wnt signaling pathway by increasing the level of nuclear β-catenin and subsequent stimulation of Tcf/Lef transcription targets. Evaluation of responses to treatments, with androgen receptor (AR) antagonist and β-catenin inhibitors revealed that cells with high levels of δ-catenin are more resistant to killing with single agent treatment than matched control cells. We show that combination treatment targeting both AR and β-catenin networks is more effective in suppressing tumor growth than targeting a single network. In conclusion, targeting clinically significant PCA with high levels of δ-catenin with anti-androgen and anti β-catenin combination therapy may prevent progression of the disease to a castration-resistant state and, thus, represents a promising therapeutic strategy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 24428-24442 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Oncotarget |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 36 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 11 2018 |
Keywords
- Delta catenin
- Disease progression
- Prostate cancer
- Treatment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology