<p>BCL-2 has been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and development of castration-resistant disease (CRPC); however, it remains unclear how the BCL-2- and AR-expressing PCa cell populations evolve across the PCa continuum, how AR molecularly regulates BCL-2 and whether BCL-2 represents a common therapeutic target in heterogeneous CRPC. Here we first show the selective induction of BCL-2 by AR pathway inhibitors (ARPIs). Vectra-based quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence (qmIF) and image mass cytometry (IMC) analyses with single-cell resolution in patient PCa and xenograft models reveal markedly increased BCL-2<sup>+</sup> (AR<sup>+</sup> or AR<sup>-</sup>) PCa cells in CRPC. Mechanistically, AR represses <i>BCL-2</i> transcription through several AR binding sites and ARPIs relieve this repression. Therapeutic studies in cells, organoids and xenografts support BCL-2 as a shared vulnerability across diverse CRPC subtypes. A Phase Ib clinical trial (NCT03751436) combining enzalutamide and BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax demonstrated reduced circulating tumor cells in responding patients. In summary, by integrating high-content single-cell level imaging analyses with mechanistic studies, extensive preclinical therapeutic experiments and a Phase Ib clinical trial, our studies herein elucidate the AR<sup>+/-</sup>BCL-2<sup>+/-</sup> PCa cell subpopulation dynamics and credentials BCL-2 as a vital therapeutic target in heterogeneous CRPC.</p>

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Single-cell imaging analysis, therapeutic modeling and a Phase Ib trial validate BCL-2 as a target across heterogeneous castration-resistant prostate cancer

  • Anmbreen Jamroze,
  • Xiaozhuo Liu,
  • Surui Hou,
  • Wen (Jess) Li,
  • Han Yu,
  • Amanda Tracz,
  • Justine Jacobi,
  • Qiuhui Li,
  • Kent Nastiuk,
  • Xin Chen,
  • Jiaoti Huang,
  • Kevin Lin,
  • Mingyu Liu,
  • Changmeng Cai,
  • Yue Lu,
  • Igor Puzanov,
  • Jason S. Kirk,
  • Gurkamal Chatta,
  • Dean G. Tang

摘要

BCL-2 has been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and development of castration-resistant disease (CRPC); however, it remains unclear how the BCL-2- and AR-expressing PCa cell populations evolve across the PCa continuum, how AR molecularly regulates BCL-2 and whether BCL-2 represents a common therapeutic target in heterogeneous CRPC. Here we first show the selective induction of BCL-2 by AR pathway inhibitors (ARPIs). Vectra-based quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence (qmIF) and image mass cytometry (IMC) analyses with single-cell resolution in patient PCa and xenograft models reveal markedly increased BCL-2+ (AR+ or AR-) PCa cells in CRPC. Mechanistically, AR represses BCL-2 transcription through several AR binding sites and ARPIs relieve this repression. Therapeutic studies in cells, organoids and xenografts support BCL-2 as a shared vulnerability across diverse CRPC subtypes. A Phase Ib clinical trial (NCT03751436) combining enzalutamide and BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax demonstrated reduced circulating tumor cells in responding patients. In summary, by integrating high-content single-cell level imaging analyses with mechanistic studies, extensive preclinical therapeutic experiments and a Phase Ib clinical trial, our studies herein elucidate the AR+/-BCL-2+/- PCa cell subpopulation dynamics and credentials BCL-2 as a vital therapeutic target in heterogeneous CRPC.