Faculty Opinions recommendation of Identification of Pik3ca mutation as a genetic driver of prostate cancer that cooperates with Pten loss to accelerate progression and castration-resistant growth.

Author(s):  
Alex Toker
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 764-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen B. Pearson ◽  
Jason Li ◽  
Valerie S. Meniel ◽  
Christina M. Fennell ◽  
Paul Waring ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Anis Gasmi ◽  
Guilhem Roubaud ◽  
Charles Dariane ◽  
Eric Barret ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Beauval ◽  
...  

Deregulation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway plays a critical role in the development and progression of many cancers. In prostate cancer, evidence suggests that it is mainly driven by PTEN loss of function. For many years, the development of selective Akt inhibitors has been challenging. In recent phase II and III clinical trials, Ipatasertib and Capivasertib associated with androgen deprivation therapies showed promising outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and PTEN-loss. Ongoing trials are currently assessing several Akt inhibitors in prostate cancer with different combinations, at different stages of the disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 159-159
Author(s):  
Edmond Michael Kwan ◽  
Chao Dai ◽  
Heidi Fettke ◽  
Christine Hauser ◽  
Patricia Bukczynska ◽  
...  

159 Background: Tumour tissue from metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) harbors frequent copy number variations (CNVs) in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-signaling pathway. However, identifying CNVs in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has proven challenging. With emerging data supporting Akt inhibition in PTEN-deficient mCRPC, cfDNA assays for robustly identifying PI3K/Akt pathway aberrations including CNVs are urgently required. Methods: In this multi-institutional prospective biomarker study, we used the Predicine cfDNA assay, optimised for CNV detection, to perform targeted sequencing in 231 mCRPC patients in two independent cohorts (Australian, n = 78; US, n = 153). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to assess associations between genomic aberrations and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: PTEN loss and PIK3CA gain were detected in 37% (85/231) and 17% (39/231) of patients, respectively. Poorer outcomes were observed in patients with PI3K/Akt pathway aberrations, including those with dual PTEN loss and PIK3CA gain (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.4). Similarly, cumulative CNV burden in the PI3K/Akt and AR pathways (0 vs 1 vs ≥2 CNVs in Australian cohort: median OS 33.5 vs 17.2 vs 9.7 months, p< 0.001; 0 vs 1 vs ≥2 CNVs in US cohort: median OS 35.5 vs 14.3 vs 9.2 months, p< 0.001) was associated with significantly worse clinical outcomes. Notably, 21% (31/146) of PTEN-neutral patients harbored other alterations in the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conclusions: Our cfDNA assay readily detected PI3K/Akt pathway CNVs, with the prevalence of PTEN loss comparable to prior tissue sequencing studies. CNVs in the PI3K/Akt pathway were associated with deleterious clinical outcomes, especially when concurrent with AR gain. Additional PI3K/Akt pathway aberrations were found in approximately one-fifth of PTEN-neutral mCRPC. Collectively, our data demonstrate the potential utility of profiling cfDNA to facilitate and optimize patient selection for treatment with Akt inhibitors in mCRPC. [Table: see text]


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 209-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Ferraldeschi ◽  
Andrew McDaniel ◽  
Rachel Krupa ◽  
Jessica Louw ◽  
Eric Tucker ◽  
...  

209 Background: Circulating tumor cell (CTCs) are traditionally defined as EpCAM/CK+ cells, CD45-, and morphologically distinct. However, recent evidence suggests that other populations of CTC candidates exist including cells that are EpCAM/CK- or smaller in size than traditional CTCs. CTC positive selection techniques that isolate CTCs based on size, density, or EpCam positivity may miss subpopulations. We aimed to molecularly characterize novel CTC candidates utilizing the Epic Sciences platform, which performs no physical selection. Methods: Blood from 10 healthy volunteers (HV) and 39 patients (pts) with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) were collected and shipped to Epic Sciences, where all nucleated cells were plated onto glass slides and subjected to immunofluorescence (IF) staining and CTC identification by fluorescent scanners and algorithms. Traditional CTCs were identified as CK+CD45- cells with intact DAPI nuclei and after pathologist review of their morphology. Candidate CK- CTC populations were identified as CK-CD45- that were morphologically malignant. Small nuclear size candidate CTCs were identified as CK+CD45- cells with diameters similar to or smaller than that of a typical white blood cells (WBCs). All candidate CTC were evaluated with prostate cancer relevant biomarkers, including androgen receptor (AR) by IF and PTEN loss and ERG rearrangements by FISH. Results: Thrity eight out of 39 pts had one or more traditional CTCs/mL and 36 out of 39 pts had one or more CK- CTCs/mL of blood. Eight out of 39 samples had more than 10 CK- CTCs/mL. Fifteen out of 39 samples had evidence of small nuclear size CTCs at varying incidences and sizes of cells. We observed PCa biomarkers including high AR expression, PTEN deletion, and ERG rearrangements in both CK- and small nuclear size CTCs. These features were not observed in over 1,000 WBCs evaluated and HV. Conclusions: Candidate CTC that are CK-CD45- and/or with a small nucleus are identified on the Epic Sciences platform in blood from mCRPC pts. Studies are ongoing to determine their clinical relevance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5064-5064
Author(s):  
Benjamin Louis Maughan ◽  
Liana Guedes ◽  
Kenneth M. Boucher ◽  
Gaurav Rajoria ◽  
Zach Liu ◽  
...  

5064 Background: We tested whether tissue-based analysis of p53 and PTEN genomic status, measured predominantly in primary tumor samples, may be predictive for sensitivity to abiraterone and enzalutamide in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 309 consecutive patients with CRPC treated with first-line abiraterone or enzalutamide. Of these, 116 men (38%) had available tumor tissue for analysis, and formed the basis of this study. Deleterious TP53 missense mutations and PTEN deletions were interrogated using genetically validated immunohistochemical assays for p53 protein nuclear accumulation and PTEN protein loss. OS and PFS were compared between patients with and without p53 and/or PTEN alterations. Results: 46% of evaluable cases had PTEN loss and 27% had p53 nuclear accumulation. 45% (53/118) of cases underwent targeted next generation sequencing and p53 nuclear accumulation was 91% sensitive and 90% specific for underlying TP53 missense mutation. OS and PFS did not differ significantly according to PTEN status but were associated with p53 status. Median OS was 15.8 months (95% CI, 15.8–23.9) and 28.7 months (95% CI, 28.7–42.7) for men with and without p53 nuclear accumulation, respectively (HR 1.98; P = 0.007). Median PFS was 5.5 months (95% CI, 3.53–10.5 months) and 10.2 months (95% CI, 7.37–13.3 months) in men with and without p53 nuclear accumulation, respectively (HR 1.73; P = 0.013). In multivariable analyses, p53 status was independently associated with both OS (HR 2.13; P = 0.016) and PFS (HR 1.83; P = 0.034). This effect was also seen in the subset of patients with prostatectomy tissue only. In patients with p53 nuclear accumulation median PFS (p < 0.001) and median OS (p < 0.001) were decreased compared to wild-type patients. No effect was seen with PTEN loss in either PFS (p = 0.12) or OS (p = 0.50). Conclusions: p53 status may be a biomarker of sensitivity to novel hormonal therapies in CRPC. PTEN was not a biomarker of sensitivity in our study. These results require prospective validation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (8) ◽  
pp. 1225-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Punnoose ◽  
Roberta Ferraldeschi ◽  
Edith Szafer-Glusman ◽  
Eric K Tucker ◽  
Sankar Mohan ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2324
Author(s):  
Moloud A. Sooreshjani ◽  
Kumar Nikhil ◽  
Mohini Kamra ◽  
Dung N. Nguyen ◽  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
...  

NKX3.1’s downregulation is strongly associated with prostate cancer (PCa) initiation, progression, and CRPC development. Nevertheless, a clear disagreement exists between NKX3.1 protein and mRNA levels in PCa tissues, indicating that its regulation at a post-translational level plays a vital role. This study identified a strong negative relationship between NKX3.1 and LIMK2, which is critical in CRPC pathogenesis. We identified that NKX3.1 degradation by direct phosphorylation by LIMK2 is crucial for promoting oncogenicity in CRPC cells and in vivo. LIMK2 also downregulates NKX3.1 mRNA levels. In return, NKX3.1 promotes LIMK2’s ubiquitylation. Thus, the negative crosstalk between LIMK2-NKX3.1 regulates AR, ARv7, and AKT signaling, promoting aggressive phenotypes. We also provide a new link between NKX3.1 and PTEN, both of which are downregulated by LIMK2. PTEN loss is strongly linked with NKX3.1 downregulation. As NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific tumor suppressor, preserving its levels by LIMK2 inhibition provides a tremendous opportunity for developing targeted therapy in CRPC. Further, as NKX3.1 downregulates AR transcription and inhibits AKT signaling, restoring its levels by inhibiting LIMK2 is expected to be especially beneficial by co-targeting two driver pathways in tandem, a highly desirable requisite for developing effective PCa therapeutics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 65-65
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Armstrong ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Joshua Beaver ◽  
Rhonda Lynn Bitting ◽  
Simon Gregory

65 Background: Given the evolving treatments available in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), predictive biomarkers are desirable that maximize benefit and minimize harms and costs.The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of DNA copy number and whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with mCRPC receiving enzalutamide. Methods: We collected CTCs from men with mCRPC in the context of enzalutamide therapy. CTCs were isolated from EDTA blood through red cell lysis, CD45 depletion, and flow sorting on EpCAM/CD45 expression. Whole genomic amplification and array based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed using Qiagen Repli-Gene Single Cell kit, multiple displacement amplification, and Agilent microarray analysis. CTC copy number changes were compared with patient leukocyte DNA and reference metastatic PC datasets. CTC AR amplification and PTEN loss was confirmed with FISH. WES on REPLI-g amplified CTC and leukocyte DNA was performed using GeneWiz and TruSeq Exome Capture Kit, and sequenced with Illumina HiSeq 2000 (20x). Results: A novel method for CTC array CGH was developed that reproducibly identified genomic lesions previously reported in metastatic CRPC including: AR amplification or focal deletions, deletions of CHD1, Rb, PHLLP, FGFR2, FOXA1, and NCOA2, and amplifications of EZH2 and MYC. AR amplification was noted in a man with mCRPC who subsequently responded to enzalutamide, with loss of AR amplification and gain of MYCN and c-MET amplification noted at progression. CGH analysis was feasible down to 10 to 20 cells using spiked cell lines. Interpatient tumor specific genomic heterogeneity was observed. FISH confirmed AR changes and PTEN loss heterogeneity. WES demonstrated acquired PTEN, MAGI1, SMAD4, and RB1 mutations in a patient who progressed through enzalutamide therapy, in addition to AR region deletion detected by CGH. Conclusions: Whole genome DNA copy number and exome sequencing analysis from CTCs in men with mCRPC is feasible in men with high CTCs and identified previously validated and novel genomic lesions and suggest the potential to identify predictive biomarkers of enzalutamide efficacy and resistance in the clinic.


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