The androgen receptor (AR), a ligand-activated transcription factor and member of the nuclear receptor family, plays a key role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. While androgen deprivation therapy remains the cornerstone of clinical management for advanced and non-organ confined prostate cancer, the majority of patients undergoing this treatment eventually relapse. The recurrent disease is termed androgen independent or hormone refractory. Androgen independent tumors not only maintain transcriptionally active AR, they are dependent on AR for growth and survival even under androgen-depleted conditions. We and others have demonstrated that Vav3, a Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), is upregulated during in vitro and in vivo progression of prostate cancer to androgen-independence in several models as well as in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. Further, Vav3 protein is overexpressed in approximately one-third of human prostate cancer. We have demonstrated that Vav3, is a potent enhancer of AR transcriptional activity in prostate cancer cells in the presence or absence of androgen. Vav3 potentiation of AR transcriptional activity in the presence of androgen (coactivation) does not require Vav3 GEF activity. Further, our preliminary data show that Vav3 but not Vav3 W493L (a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain mutant) is recruited to an AR target gene androgen responsive region in chromatin. This recruitment occurs in an androgen-dependent manner and reveals a novel nuclear role for Vav3. In contrast, oncogenic (constitutively active) Vav3 (or Vav3 activated by growth factors) promotes ligand-independent AR activation via cross-talk that requires Vav3 GEF function and the Rho GTPase, Rac1. Thus, Vav3 is a versatile modulator of AR activity. Both the hormone-dependent and -independent activation of AR by Vav3 may contribute to prostate cancer progression and both pathways are exploitable therapeutically. The potential impact of this project is high due to the availability of drugs that inhibit Rac1. This study will investigate the mechanisms by which Vav3 enhances AR transcriptional activity and prostate cancer progression to androgen independence. We will determine whether Vav3/Rac1 signaling is necessary and sufficient to cause androgen independent tumor formation in tumor xenograft studies and in genetically engineered mouse models of prostate cancer. We will define the role of Vav3 enhancement of AR activity in this process. Identification of the molecular mechanisms of Vav3 potentiation of AR activity and examination of the contribution of Vav3 to prostate cancer progression in mouse models is essential for the development of Vav3 pathways as therapeutic targets.

Public Health Relevance

Public Health Relevance

Levels of the Vav3 protein rise in human prostate cancer. Vav3 enhances the activity of the androgen receptor, increases growth of prostate cancer cells and causes prostate cancer in mice. This study seeks to understand these oncogenic effects of Vav3 in order to exploit currently available drugs that target Vav3 pathways for prostate cancer therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA132200-02
Application #
7837646
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section (MCE)
Program Officer
Sathyamoorthy, Neeraja
Project Start
2009-07-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$321,650
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
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Magani, Fiorella; Peacock, Stephanie O; Rice, Meghan A et al. (2017) Targeting AR Variant-Coactivator Interactions to Exploit Prostate Cancer Vulnerabilities. Mol Cancer Res 15:1469-1480
Udayakumar, Thirupandiyur S; Stoyanova, Radka; Shareef, Mohammed M et al. (2016) Edelfosine Promotes Apoptosis in Androgen-Deprived Prostate Tumors by Increasing ATF3 and Inhibiting Androgen Receptor Activity. Mol Cancer Ther 15:1353-63
Rice, M A; Ishteiwy, R A; Magani, F et al. (2016) The microRNA-23b/-27b cluster suppresses prostate cancer metastasis via Huntingtin-interacting protein 1-related. Oncogene 35:4752-61
Aguilar, Helena; Urruticoechea, Ander; Halonen, Pasi et al. (2014) VAV3 mediates resistance to breast cancer endocrine therapy. Breast Cancer Res 16:R53
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Fahrenholtz, Cale D; Greene, Ann M; Beltran, Pedro J et al. (2014) A novel calcium-dependent mechanism of acquired resistance to IGF-1 receptor inhibition in prostate cancer cells. Oncotarget 5:9007-21
Wu, Fayi; Peacock, Stephanie O; Rao, Shuyun et al. (2013) Novel interaction between the co-chaperone Cdc37 and Rho GTPase exchange factor Vav3 promotes androgen receptor activity and prostate cancer growth. J Biol Chem 288:5463-74
Fahrenholtz, Cale D; Beltran, Pedro J; Burnstein, Kerry L (2013) Targeting IGF-IR with ganitumab inhibits tumorigenesis and increases durability of response to androgen-deprivation therapy in VCaP prostate cancer xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 12:394-404
Catanuto, Paola; Fornoni, Alessia; Pereira-Simon, Simone et al. (2012) In vivo 17?-estradiol treatment contributes to podocyte actin stabilization in female db/db mice. Endocrinology 153:5888-95

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