STAT3/LKB1 controls metastatic prostate cancer by regulating mTORC1/CREB pathway.
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Peer-reviewed
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Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common and fatal type of cancer in men. Metastatic PCa (mPCa) is a major factor contributing to its lethality, although the mechanisms remain poorly understood. PTEN is one of the most frequently deleted genes in mPCa. Here we show a frequent genomic co-deletion of PTEN and STAT3 in liquid biopsies of patients with mPCa. Loss of Stat3 in a Pten-null mouse prostate model leads to a reduction of LKB1/pAMPK with simultaneous activation of mTOR/CREB, resulting in metastatic disease. However, constitutive activation of Stat3 led to high LKB1/pAMPK levels and suppressed mTORC1/CREB pathway, preventing mPCa development. Metformin, one of the most widely prescribed therapeutics against type 2 diabetes, inhibits mTORC1 in liver and requires LKB1 to mediate glucose homeostasis. We find that metformin treatment of STAT3/AR-expressing PCa xenografts resulted in significantly reduced tumor growth accompanied by diminished mTORC1/CREB, AR and PSA levels. PCa xenografts with deletion of STAT3/AR nearly completely abrogated mTORC1/CREB inhibition mediated by metformin. Moreover, metformin treatment of PCa patients with high Gleason grade and type 2 diabetes resulted in undetectable mTORC1 levels and upregulated STAT3 expression. Furthermore, PCa patients with high CREB expression have worse clinical outcomes and a significantly increased risk of PCa relapse and metastatic recurrence. In summary, we have shown that STAT3 controls mPCa via LKB1/pAMPK/mTORC1/CREB signaling, which we have identified as a promising novel downstream target for the treatment of lethal mPCa.
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Acknowledgements: The authors thank Stephanie Ponti, Anna Zacher and Victoria Weissenböck for their skilful help with animal handling as well as biolution GmbH for the support with the graphical abstract.
Funder: Christian Doppler Research Association
Funder: Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy
Funder: National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development
Funder: Siemens Healthineers
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1476-4598
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National Institute for Cancer Research (LX22NPO5102)
Deutsche Krebshilfe (70112589)
Italian Cancer Research Association (IG 24851)
European Union Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network grant (101072735)
BM Fonds (15142)
Margaretha Hehberger Stiftung (15142)
COMET Competence Center CBmed (FA791A0906.FFG)
Austrian Science Fund (P26011, P29251 and P 34781)
eRaDicate (101119427)
Austrian Research Promotion Agency (MicroONE)