Title:
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Importance of the tumour
microenvironment in the treatment
response of prostate tumours
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Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) such as bicalutamide (BCA) has become the mainstay
of treatment for locally-advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Despite initial remissions, ADT
resistance almost inevitably occurs with progression to metastatic castrate-resistant PCa.
Hypoxia is a common hallmark of many solid tumours and is associated with treatment
failure and malignant progression; androgen withdrawal has been shown to induce profound
hypoxia in androgen-sensitive tissue. This prompted an investigation into the effect of ADT
on tumour oxygenation and malignant progression in PCa.
Androgen-dependent luciferase-expressing PCa xenografts (LNCaP-luc) were implanted in
SCID mice. When tumours reached -150mm3 mice were treated daily with SCA (2 or
6mg/kg). A reduction in tumour oxygen was observed within 24hrs (Oxylite™ oxygenelectrode);
this continued to a nadir of 0.1 % oxygen at day 3 or 7 respectively. Tumours
remained profoundly hypoxic until day 14-21 when oxygen levels began to rise, concomitant
to time-dependent remodelling of the tumour vasculature (dorsal skin fold model). By day 28,
BCA-treated xenografts were more malignant and showed greater metastatic spread to the
lungs. Gene expression changes during BCA treatment of LNCaP xenografts were
investigated using qPCR arrays; significant differences were found in the expression many
genes involved in angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, apoptosis resistance and the
PI3K1AktimTOR signalling pathway. Informed treatment regimens combining SCA with a
unidirectional hypoxia activated prod rug (AQ4N and its novel analogue OCT1002; 50mg/kg,
day 7) or an Akt inhibitor (30mg/kg t.i.w) resulted in a reduction in tumour growth and
metastatic spread to the lungs. When the anti-angiogenic VEGF-inhibitor (B20.4.1.1;
5mg/kg, day 14) was combined with bicalutamide, this blocked the revascularisation
associated with BCA alone.
This study shows that BCA-induced hypoxia induces critical changes in the tumour
microenvironment which cause modified gene expression and drives malignant progression.
Targeted therapeutic regimens, informed by this knowledge, may improve treatment
outcomes of androgen-dependent PCa.
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