Diverse AR-V7 cistromes in castration-resistant prostate cancer are governed by HoxB13

Z Chen, D Wu, JM Thomas-Ahner… - Proceedings of the …, 2018 - National Acad Sciences
Z Chen, D Wu, JM Thomas-Ahner, C Lu, P Zhao, Q Zhang, C Geraghty, PS Yan, W Hankey…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018National Acad Sciences
The constitutively active androgen receptor (AR) splice variant 7 (AR-V7) plays an important
role in the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Although biomarker
studies established the role of AR-V7 in resistance to AR-targeting therapies, how AR-V7
mediates genomic functions in CRPC remains largely unknown. Using a ChIP-exo
approach, we show AR-V7 binds to distinct genomic regions and recognizes a full-length
androgen-responsive element in CRPC cells and patient tissues. Remarkably, we find …
The constitutively active androgen receptor (AR) splice variant 7 (AR-V7) plays an important role in the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Although biomarker studies established the role of AR-V7 in resistance to AR-targeting therapies, how AR-V7 mediates genomic functions in CRPC remains largely unknown. Using a ChIP-exo approach, we show AR-V7 binds to distinct genomic regions and recognizes a full-length androgen-responsive element in CRPC cells and patient tissues. Remarkably, we find dramatic differences in AR-V7 cistromes across diverse CRPC cells and patient tissues, regulating different target gene sets involved in CRPC progression. Surprisingly, we discover that HoxB13 is universally required for and colocalizes with AR-V7 binding to open chromatin across CRPC genomes. HoxB13 pioneers AR-V7 binding through direct physical interaction, and collaborates with AR-V7 to up-regulate target oncogenes. Transcriptional coregulation by HoxB13 and AR-V7 was further supported by their coexpression in tumors and circulating tumor cells from CRPC patients. Importantly, HoxB13 silencing significantly decreases CRPC growth through inhibition of AR-V7 oncogenic function. These results identify HoxB13 as a pivotal upstream regulator of AR-V7–driven transcriptomes that are often cell context-dependent in CRPC, suggesting that HoxB13 may serve as a therapeutic target for AR-V7–driven prostate tumors.
National Acad Sciences