Recent studies revealed the relationship among homologous recombination repair (HRR), androgen receptor (AR), and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP); however, the synergy between anti-androgen enzalutamide (ENZ) and PARP inhibitor olaparib (OLA) remains unclear. Here, we showed that the synergistic effect of ENZ and OLA significantly reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines. Next-generation sequencing followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed the significant effects of ENZ plus OLA on nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and apoptosis pathways. ENZ combined with OLA synergistically inhibited the NHEJ pathway by repressing DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and X-ray repair cross complementing 4 (XRCC4). Moreover, our data showed that ENZ could enhance the response of prostate cancer cells to the combination therapy by reversing the anti-apoptotic effect of OLA through the downregulation of anti-apoptotic gene insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF1R ) and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic gene death-associated protein kinase 1 ( DAPK1 ). Collectively, our results suggested that ENZ combined with OLA can promote prostate cancer cell apoptosis by multiple pathways other than inducing HRR defects, providing evidence for the combined use of ENZ and OLA in prostate cancer regardless of HRR gene mutation status.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics* ; Nitriles ; Apoptosis

The research on androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer is advancing.Although the prognostic value of AR in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is controversial,a variety of studies have demonstrated that the lack of AR expression exacerbates disease progression.Moreover,the TNBC subtype of AR(-) is more aggressive than that of AR(+) due to the lack of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.With the discovery and deepening research of novel therapeutic targets such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 signaling pathways,as well as the emerging of immunotherapies,the treatment options for TNBC are increasing.Regarding the role of AR in TNBC,the studies about the tumor biology of AR(-)TNBC and novel biomarkers for improved management of the disease remain insufficient.In this review,we summarize the research progress of AR in TNBC,put forward avenues for future research on TNBC,and propose potential biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that warrant investigation.
Humans ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Biomarkers ; Signal Transduction

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-8-interacting protein 2 (MAPK8IP2) is a scaffold protein that modulates MAPK signal cascades. Although MAPK pathways were heavily implicated in prostate cancer progression, the regulation of MAPK8IP2 expression in prostate cancer is not yet reported. We assessed MAPK8IP2 gene expression in prostate cancer related to disease progression and patient survival outcomes. MAPK8IP2 expression was analyzed using multiple genome-wide gene expression datasets derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-sequence project and complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays. Multivariable Cox regressions and log-rank tests were used to analyze the overall survival outcome and progression-free interval. MAPK8IP2 protein expression was evaluated using the immunohistochemistry approach. The quantitative PCR and Western blot methods analyzed androgen-stimulated MAPK8IP2 expression in LNCaP cells. In primary prostate cancer tissues, MAPK8IP2 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher than those in the case-matched benign prostatic tissues. Increased MAPK8IP2 expression was strongly correlated with late tumor stages, lymph node invasion, residual tumors after surgery, higher Gleason scores, and preoperational serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. MAPK8IP2 upregulation was significantly associated with worse overall survival outcomes and progression-free intervals. In castration-resistant prostate cancers, MAPK8IP2 expression strongly correlated with androgen receptor (AR) signaling activity. In cell culture-based experiments, MAPK8IP2 expression was stimulated by androgens in AR-positive prostate cancer cells. However, MAPK8IP2 expression was blocked by AR antagonists only in androgen-sensitive LNCaP but not castration-resistant C4-2B and 22RV1 cells. These results indicate that MAPK8IP2 is a robust prognostic factor and therapeutic biomarker for prostate cancer. The potential role of MAPK8IP2 in the castration-resistant progression is under further investigation.
Male ; Humans ; Androgens/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Most prostate cancers initially respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). With the long-term application of ADT, localized prostate cancer will progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), metastatic CRPC (mCRPC), and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and the transcriptional network shifted. Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) may play a key role in this process through multiple mechanisms. To better understand the role of FOXA1 in prostate cancer, we review the interplay among FOXA1-targeted genes, modulators of FOXA1, and FOXA1 with a particular emphasis on androgen receptor (AR) function. Furthermore, we discuss the distinct role of FOXA1 mutations in prostate cancer and clinical significance of FOXA1. We summarize possible regulation pathways of FOXA1 in different stages of prostate cancer. We focus on links between FOXA1 and AR, which may play different roles in various types of prostate cancer. Finally, we discuss FOXA1 mutation and its clinical significance in prostate cancer. FOXA1 regulates the development of prostate cancer through various pathways, and it could be a biomarker for mCRPC and NEPC. Future efforts need to focus on mechanisms underlying mutation of FOXA1 in advanced prostate cancer. We believe that FOXA1 would be a prognostic marker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
Humans ; Male ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Androgens/metabolism* ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy* ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism*

A complete proteomics study characterizing active androgen receptor (AR) complexes in prostate cancer (PCa) cells identified a diversity of protein interactors with tumorigenic annotations, including known RNA splicing factors. Thus, we chose to further investigate the functional role of AR-mediated alternative RNA splicing in PCa disease progression. We selected two AR-interacting RNA splicing factors, Src associated in mitosis of 68 kDa (SAM68) and DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box helicase 5 (DDX5) to examine their associative roles in AR-dependent alternative RNA splicing. To assess the true physiological role of AR in alternative RNA splicing, we assessed splicing profiles of LNCaP PCa cells using exon microarrays and correlated the results to PCa clinical datasets. As a result, we were able to highlight alternative splicing events of clinical significance. Initial use of exon-mini gene cassettes illustrated hormone-dependent AR-mediated exon-inclusion splicing events with SAM68 or exon-exclusion splicing events with DDX5 overexpression. The physiological significance in PCa was investigated through the application of clinical exon array analysis, where we identified exon-gene sets that were able to delineate aggressive disease progression profiles and predict patient disease-free outcomes independently of pathological clinical criteria. Using a clinical dataset with patients categorized as prostate cancer-specific death (PCSD), these exon gene sets further identified a select group of patients with extremely poor disease-free outcomes. Overall, these results strongly suggest a nonclassical role of AR in mediating robust alternative RNA splicing in PCa. Moreover, AR-mediated alternative spicing contributes to aggressive PCa progression, where we identified a new subtype of lethal PCa defined by AR-dependent alternative splicing.
Humans ; Male ; Alternative Splicing ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/metabolism* ; Disease Progression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism* ; RNA Splicing Factors/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is related to the level of androgen and its metabolic pathways. The binding of androgen and androgen receptor (AR) depends on the assistance of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). HSP27 combined with microRNAs (miR)-1 can regulate AR levels. However, it is not clear whether HSP27 and miR-1 jointly participate in the pathogenesis of AGA. This study aims to investigate the role of AR up-regulation in the pathogenesis of AGA and underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 46 male AGA patients (AGA group), who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from September 2019 to February 2020, and 52 healthy controls admitted to the same period were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and HSP27 in patients and healthy controls were measured by ELISA. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of HSP27 and AR in scalp tissues of patients and the healthy controls. The levels of HSP27, AR, and miR-1 were analyzed using real-time PCR. Human dermal papilla cells were transfected with HSP27 siRNA to inhibit the expression of HSP27. MiR-1 and miR-1 inhibitors were transfected simultaneously or separately into cells and then the changes in AR protein expression were detected. RESULTS: The levels of DHT and HSP27 in the AGA group were (361.4±187.7) pg/mL and (89.4±21.8) ng/mL, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group [(281.8±176.6) pg/mL and (41.2±13.7) ng/mL, both P<0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in serum HSP27 and AR levels among AGA patients with different degrees of hair loss (P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between HSP27 level and DHT level in the AGA patients (P<0.05). The level of HSP27 mRNA in scalp tissue was negatively correlated with that of miR-1 mRNA (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of HSP27 protein, AR protein, HSP27 mRNA, and AR mRNA in scalp tissues of AGA group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The up-regulation of HSP27 in scalp tissues of AGA patients was closely related to the increased levels of AR. However, the level of miR-1 in scalp tissues of AGA patients was significantly down-regulated, contrary to the expression of AR (P<0.05). Further in cell studies showed that inhibition of HSP27 or miR-1 expression in human dermal papilla cells could inhibit the expression of AR, and inhibition of both HSP27 and miR-1 expression was found to have an accumulative effect on AR, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HSP27 could combine with miR-1 to up-regulate AR levels, which is closely related to the development of AGA.
Alopecia/pathology* ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation

According to the classification presented by Lehmann BD (2016), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with four specific subtypes: basal-like (subtype 1 and subtype 2), mesenchymal, and luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtypes. The basal-like subtypes of carcinomas predominate in this group, accounting for up to 80% of all cases. Despite the significantly lower proportions of mesenchymal and LAR variants in the group of breast carcinomas with a TNBC profile, such tumors are characterized by aggressive biological behavior. To this end, the LAR subtype is of particular interest, since the literature on such tumors presents different and even contradictory data concerning the disease course and prognosis. This review is devoted to the analysis of the relevant literature, reflecting the main results of studies on the molecular properties and clinical features of the disease course of LAR-type TNBC carcinomas.
Carcinoma ; Humans ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics* ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/pathology*

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic male disease characterized by the enlarged prostate. Celtis chosenianaNakai (C. choseniana) is medicinally used to alleviate pain, gastric disease, and lung abscess. In this study, the effect of C. choseniana extract on BPH was investigated using testosterone-induced rats. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups: control, BPH (testosterone 5 mg·kg^-1), Fina (finasteride 2 mg·kg^-1), and C. choseniana (50 and 100 mg·kg^-1). After four weeks of TP treatment with finasteride or C. choseniana, prostate weights and DHT levels were measured. In addition, the prostates were histopathologically examined and measured for protein kinase B (Akt)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/AR signaling, proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Prostate weight and epithelial thickness were reduced in the C. choseniana groups compared with that in the BPH group. The extract of C. choseniana acted as a 5α reductase inhibitor, reducing DHT levels in the prostate. Furthermore, the extract of C. choseniana blocked the activation of p-Akt, nuclear NF-κB activation and reduced the expression of AR and PSA compared with BPH. Moreover, the expression of Bax, PARP-1, and p53 increased, while the expression of bcl-2 decreased. The present study demonstrated that C. choseniana extract alleviated testosterone-induced BPH by suppressing 5α reductase and Akt/NF-κB activation, reducing AR signaling and inducing apoptosis and autophagy in the prostate. These results suggested that C. choseniana probably contain potential herbal agents to alleviate BPH.
Animals ; Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase/metabolism* ; Finasteride/adverse effects* ; Male ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism* ; Testosterone ; Ulmaceae/metabolism*

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous cancers in North American men. While androgen deprivation has remained as the cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, resistance ensues leading to lethal disease. Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) encodes a pioneer factor that induces open chromatin conformation to allow the binding of other transcription factors. Through direct interactions with the Androgen Receptor (AR), FOXA1 helps to shape AR signaling that drives the growth and survival of normal prostate and prostate cancer cells. FOXA1 also possesses an AR-independent role of regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In prostate cancer, mutations converge onto the coding sequence and cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of FOXA1, leading to functional alterations. In addition, FOXA1 activity in prostate cancer can be modulated post-translationally through various mechanisms such as LSD1-mediated protein demethylation. In this review, we describe the latest discoveries related to the function and regulation of FOXA1 in prostate cancer, pointing to their relevance to guide future clinical interventions.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha/metabolism* ; Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Prostate/pathology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Protein Binding ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription, Genetic

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and trichoepithelioma (TE) are follicular adnexal neoplasms that arise from the follicular germ but with divergent biological behavior. The gold standard in the differentiation is through histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stain. There are cases, however, when the distinction is not straightforward. Objective: To assess the association and diagnostic accuracy of the immunohistochemical (IHC) expressions of CD10, Ki67, CK19, androgen receptor (AR), and PHLDA1 in distinguishing between basal cell carcinoma and trichoepithelioma. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search on cross-sectional studies on human tissue from 2000 to 2020 in MEDLINE (PubMed), CENTRAL and EMBASE for comparative studies and reference lists. The data were summarized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and RevMan. We used Chi-square test for independence, summary receiver operator curves (sROC), and diagnostic odds ratio (OR). Results: We included 15 articles containing 686 BCC and 367 TE in the systematic review. The pooled staining of biomarkers showed a significant difference in the staining of CK19 (p<0.05) and AR (p<0.0001), and PHLDA1 (p<0.0001). Diagnostic odds ratio was used to confirm these associations. AR was found to have the highest odds in the diagnosis of BCC (OR 27.92, 95% CI 10.69, 72.86). The pattern of staining of CD10 is significant (p<0.001) with staining of both tumor and stroma (OR 8.09, 95% CI 4.57, 13.53) and staining of tumor alone (OR 8.15, 95% CI 4.56, 14.35) (p<0.001) in the diagnosis of BCC. CD10 stromal staining, on the other hand, is significantly associated with the diagnosis of TE (OR 7.26, 95% CI 5.06, 10.44) (p<0.0001). There is no significant association between Ki67 staining (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.48, 3.09) (p=0.67) and the diagnosis of BCC. The forest plot and sROC showed that AR had high specificity across all included studies in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, while PHLDA1 demonstrated high specificity and high sensitivity in diagnosing trichoepithelioma. Conclusion The biomarkers AR and PHLDA1 are useful as an initial panel to distinguish between BCC and TE, given that both showed high sensitivity as well as significant association with BCC and TE respectively. CD10 and CK19 may also be used with AR and PHLDA1 for further confirmation.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Immunohistochemistry ; Receptors, Androgen