EGFR-upregulated LIFR promotes SUCLG2-dependent castration resistance and neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer

Oncogene. 2020 Oct;39(44):6757-6775. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01468-9. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation is a well-recognized phenotypic change of prostate cancer after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and it ultimately develops into an aggressive subset of this disease. However, the contribution of signaling pathways that lead to metabolic disorders and NE differentiation of prostate cancer remains unclear. In this study, we identified that ADT induced upregulation of the succinate-CoA ligase GDP-forming beta subunit (SUCLG2), which regulates succinate metabolism and NE differentiation of prostate cancer. We demonstrated a connection that upregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) signaling induced SUCLG2 expression in prostate cancer cells. The LIFR is upregulated by nuclear EGFR, which acts as a transcriptional regulator, directly binds to the LIFR promoter, and drives NE differentiation and glycolysis of prostate cancer. LIFR upregulation is associated with SUCLG2, which increased succinate synthesis and enzymatic activities of mitochondrial nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) in prostate cancer cells. Knockdown of SUCLG2 suppressed NE differentiation in cultured cells and reduced prostate tumor growth in a xenograft model. Analysis of prostate tissue samples showed increased intensity of nuclear EGFR associated with the LIFR and SUCLG2 in castration-resistant prostate cancer tumors. Our study provides a mechanism whereby ADT upregulates EGFR-LIFR signaling that activates SUCLG2, which subsequently stimulates the metabolic changes associated with NE differentiation and aggressive prostate cancer phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Cell Transdifferentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Transdifferentiation / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glycolysis / drug effects
  • Glycolysis / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics*
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / genetics*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / pathology
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Succinate-CoA Ligases / genetics
  • Succinate-CoA Ligases / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgen Antagonists
  • LIFR protein, human
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • SUCLG2 protein, human
  • Succinate-CoA Ligases