Preclinical Study Using ABT263 to Increase Enzalutamide Sensitivity to Suppress Prostate Cancer Progression Via Targeting BCL2/ROS/USP26 Axis Through Altering ARv7 Protein Degradation

Background: The recently developed antiandrogen, Enzalutamide (Enz), has reformed the standard of care for castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. However, Enz-resistance inevitably emerges despite success of Enz in prolonging CRPC patients' survival. Here we found that Enz-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) cells had higher BCL2 expression. We aimed to test whether targeting BCL2 would influence Enz sensitivity of prostate cancer (PCa) and identify the potential mechanism. Methods: The study was designed to target Enz-induced BCL2 with inhibitor ABT263 and test Enz sensitivity in Enz-resistant PCa cells by MTT assay. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected with dihydroethidium staining, and in vitro deubiquitinating enzyme activity assay was used to evaluate ubiquitin specific protease 26 (USP26) activity. Results: ABT263 could increase Enz sensitivity in both Enz-sensitive and Enz-resistant PCa cells via inducing ROS generation. Elevated cellular ROS levels might then inhibit USP26 activity to increase the ubiquitination of androgen receptor (AR) and AR splice variant 7 (ARv7) and their ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation, which contributed to the increase of Enz sensitivity. In vivo mouse model also demonstrates that ABT263 will suppress the PCa progression. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that targeting Enz-induced BCL2 with inhibitor ABT263 could increase Enz sensitivity in both Enz-sensitive and Enz-resistant PCa cells through induction of cellular ROS levels and suppression of USP26 activity with a consequent increase of ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation of AR and ARv7 protein expression.