Targeting androgen receptor leads to suppression of prostate cancer via induction of autophagy.
OBJECTIVE
Androgen receptor has a critical role in prostate cancer development and progression. Cell death via autophagy may also contribute to prostate cancer progression. We determined the role and regulatory effects of androgen receptor on the autophagy process of prostate cancer cells.


METHODS
Using a series of morphological approaches, such as transmission electron microscopy, monodansylcadaverine (Sigma®) and GFP-LC3 fluorescence microscopy assay, and Western blot we monitored the autophagic process in 3 pairs of prostate cancer cell lines to study the relationship to androgen receptor signals.


RESULTS
Androgen receptor knockdown in androgen receptor positive cells, such as LNCaP or CWRrv1 human prostate cancer cells, led to increased autophagy. Adding functional androgen receptor to androgen receptor negative cells, such as PC3 human prostate cancer cells, resulted in decreased autophagy. This suggests that androgen receptor could have a negative role in regulating autophagy. Mechanism dissection indicated that androgen receptor might repress autophagy via modulation of p62 expression. A therapeutic approach of targeting androgen receptor to increase autophagy using the androgen receptor degradation enhancer ASC-J9® suppressed prostate cancer growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings provide evidence that the androgen receptor might promote prostate cancer cell growth via autophagy down-regulation. Targeting the androgen receptor via ASC-J9 might lead to tumor suppression via the induction of autophagy. This may represent a new, potential therapeutic approach and mechanism for prostate cancer.
George Whipple Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Qi
Q
Jiang
Shuyuan
S
Yeh
Xiaohai
X
Wang
Defeng
D
Xu
Qiaoxia
Q
Zhang
Xinquin
X
Wen
Shujie
S
Xia
Chawnshang
C
Chang
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001343:Autophagy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D020123:Sirolimus