MiR-644a Disrupts Oncogenic Transformation and Warburg Effect by Direct Modulation of Multiple Genes of Tumor-Promoting Pathways

Abstract

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is defined by tumor microenvironment heterogeneity affecting intrinsic cellular mechanisms including dysregulated androgen signaling, aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), and aberrant activation of transcription factors including androgen receptor (AR) and c-Myc. Using in vitro, in vivo, and animal models, we find a direct correlation between miR-644a downregulation and dysregulation of essential cellular processes. MiR-644a downregulated expression of diverse tumor microenvironment drivers including c-Myc, AR coregulators, and antiapoptosis factors Bcl-xl and Bcl2. Moreover, miR-644a modulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by directly targeting EMT-promoting factors ZEB1, cdk6, and Snail. Finally, miR-644a expression suppresses the Warburg effect by direct targeting of c-Myc, Akt, IGF1R, and GAPDH expression. RNA sequencing analysis revealed an analogous downregulation of these factors in animal tumor xenografts. These data demonstrate miR-644a mediated fine-tuning of oncogenesis, stimulating pathways and resultant potentiation of enzalutamide therapy in CRPC patients.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 15, 2019
Source ID
10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2993

Entities

People

  • Crystal M. Weyman
  • Daniel J. Lindner
  • Eswar Shankar
  • Girish C. Shukla
  • Jagjit Singh
  • Jey S. Ebron
  • Kavleen Sikand
  • Moray J Campbell
  • Sanjay Gupta
  • Xiaoqi Liu

Organizations

  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Cleveland State University
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Ohio State University
  • Panjab University
  • United States Department of Defense
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States Public Health Service
  • University of Kentucky

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).
  • Prostate Cancer Biology.