Investigation of the In Vitro and In Vivo efficiency of RM-532-105, a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 inhibitor, in LAPC-4 prostate cancer cell and tumor models

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 9;12(2):e0171871. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171871. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

In the fight against androgen-sensitive prostate cancer, the enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17β-HSD3) is an attractive therapeutic target considering its key role in the formation of androgenic steroids. In this study, we attempted to assess the in vivo efficacy of the compound RM-532-105, an androsterone derivative developed as an inhibitor of 17β-HSD3, in the prostate cancer model of androgen-sensitive LAPC-4 cells xenografted in nude mice. RM-532-105 did not inhibit the tumor growth induced by 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-dione); rather, the levels of the androgens testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased within the tumors. In plasma, however, DHT levels increased but T levels did not. In troubleshooting experiments, the non-androgenic potential of RM-532-105 was confirmed by two different assays (LAPC-4 proliferation and androgen receptor transcriptional activity assays). The enzyme 5α-reductase was also revealed to be the predominant enzyme metabolizing 4-dione in LAPC-4 cells, yielding 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and not T. Other 17β-HSDs than 17β-HSD3 seem responsible in the androgen synthesis. From experiments with LAPC-4 cells, we fortuitously came across the interesting finding that 17β-HSD3 inhibitor RM-532-105 is concentrated inside tumors.

MeSH terms

  • 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Androstanes / pharmacology
  • Androstanes / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dihydrotestosterone / blood
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Androstanes
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • RM-532-105
  • Sulfonamides
  • Dihydrotestosterone
  • 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (POP-Phase I). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.