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MiR-644a Disrupts Oncogenic Transformation and Warburg Effect by Direct Modulation of Multiple Genes of Tumor-Promoting Pathways
Cancer Research
  • Jey S. Ebron, Cleveland State University
  • Eswar Shankar, University Hospitals Case Medical Center
  • Jagjit Singh, Cleveland State University
  • Kavleen Sikand, Panjab University
  • Crystal M. Weyman, Cleveland State University
  • Sanjay Gupta, University Hospitals Case Medical Center
  • Daniel J. Lindner, Taussig Cancer Center
  • Xiaoqi Liu, University of Kentucky
  • Moray J. Campbell, The Ohio State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-15-2019
Disciplines
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. Significance: This study demonstrates that miR-644a therapeutically influences the CRPC tumor microenvironment by suppressing androgen signaling and additional genes involved in metabolism, proliferation, Warburg effect, and EMT, to potentiate the enzalutamide therapy.

DOI
10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2993
Citation Information
Jey S. Ebron, Eswar Shankar, Jagjit Singh, Kavleen Sikand, et al.. "MiR-644a Disrupts Oncogenic Transformation and Warburg Effect by Direct Modulation of Multiple Genes of Tumor-Promoting Pathways" Cancer Research Vol. 79 Iss. 8 (2019) p. 1844 - 1856 ISSN: 00085472
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/crystal_weyman/18/