Publications

ABSTRACT MicroRNA-194 (miR-194) promotes prostate cancer metastasis, but the precise molecular mechanisms by which it achieves this are unknown. Here, by integrating Argonaute high-throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by crosslinking immunoprecipitation (Ago-HITS-CLIP) with RNA sequencing and exon-intron split analysis, we defined a 163-gene miR-194 “targetome” in prostate cancer. These target genes were predominantly down-regulated through canonical 3’UTR recognition sites and were enriched within pathways involved in cytoskeletal organisation and cell movement. In clinical prostate cancer samples, miR-194 activity was inversely correlated with the androgen receptor (AR) signalling axis. At a mechanistic level, this inverse correlation was explained by down-regulation of miR-194 expression by AR. Accordingly, miR-194 expression and activity was significantly elevated in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), an aggressive AR-independent disease subtype. MiR-194 enhanced the transdifferentiation of prostate adenocarcinoma cells to a neuroendocrine-like state, at least in part by targeting FOXA1, a transcription factor with a key role in maintaining the prostate epithelial lineage. Importantly, a miR-194 inhibitor effectively inhibited the growth of cell lines and patient-derived organoids with neuroendocrine features. Overall, our study reveals a novel post-transcriptional mechanism regulating the plasticity of prostate cancer cells and provides a rationale for targeting miR-194 in this NEPC.

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Potent therapeutic inhibition of the androgen receptor (AR) in prostate adenocarcinoma can lead to the emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a phenomenon associated with enhanced cell plasticity. Here, we show that microRNA-194 (miR-194) is a regulator of epithelial-neuroendocrine transdifferentiation. In clinical prostate cancer samples, miR-194 expression and activity were elevated in NEPC and inversely correlated with AR signaling. miR-194 facilitated the emergence of neuroendocrine features in prostate cancer cells, a process mediated by its ability to directly target a suite of genes involved in cell plasticity. One such target was FOXA1, which encodes a transcription factor with a vital role in maintaining the prostate epithelial lineage. Importantly, a miR-194 inhibitor blocked epithelial-neuroendocrine transdifferentiation and inhibited the growth of cell lines and patient-derived organoids possessing neuroendocrine features. Overall, our study reveals a post-transcriptional mechanism regulating the plasticity of prostate cancer cells and provides a rationale for targeting miR-194 in NEPC.

8502 Background: Belantamab mafodotin, a B-cell maturation antigen targeting immunoconjugate, demonstrated clinically meaningful, single-agent activity in patients with heavily pre-treated RRMM refractory to an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and refractory and/or intolerant to an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (DREAMM-2, NCT03525678, Lancet Oncol.2020). The multimodal mechanism of action and manageable safety profile make belantamab mafodotin a promising candidate for use in different RRMM combination regimens. Methods: DREAMM-6 (NCT03544281) is an ongoing, two-part, two-arm, study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and clinical activity of belantamab mafodotin in combination with bortezomib/dexamethasone (BorDex) and lenalidomide/dexamethasone in patients previously treated with ≥1 prior therapy line. Here, we present data for belantamab mafodotin in combination with BorDex. Part 1 (dose escalation) and Part 2 (dose expansion) evaluated belantamab mafodotin (2.5 and 3.4 mg/kg) administered as SINGLE (Day 1) or SPLIT dose (divided equally on Days 1 and 8) in combination with BorDex. Results: As of February 6, 2020, 52 patients were enrolled: 6 patients were enrolled at 2.5 mg/kg single dose and 7 at 3.4 mg/kg single dosing in Part 1, and 45 patients in Part 2. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Corneal events (including keratopathy, blurred vision, and dry eye) and thrombocytopenia were the most frequently reported AEs and were clinically manageable. Conclusions: In DREAMM-6, preliminary data demonstrate that the combination of belantamab mafodotin and BorDex has an acceptable safety profile, with no new safety signals identified. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline (207497). Drug linker technology licensed from Seattle Genetics; monoclonal antibody produced using POTELLIGENT Technology licensed from BioWa. Clinical trial information: NCT03544281 .

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS), extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, was found to be the most effective compound of tanshen extracts against cancer cells in our previous studies. However, the therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanisms of DHTS on ovarian cancer remain uncertain. In this study, we demonstrated the cytocidal effects of DHTS on chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells with or without platinum-based chemotherapy. DHTS was able to inhibit proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Combinatorial treatment of DHTS and cisplatin exhibited enhanced DNA damage in ovarian cancer cells. Overall, these findings suggest that DHTS induces ovarian cancer cells death via induction of DNA damage and inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Innovative steel-concrete composite (SCC) walls are increasingly becoming a popular choice in low-to-high-rise buildings due to their high load-bearing capacity and convenience of construction. The long-term behaviour of these walls is therefore of great significance to the serviceability behaviour and this paper attempts to address this important issue. The paper firstly discusses the scarcity of experimental investigations on the long-term behaviour of SCC walls, and then presents an experimental program for both plain concrete and SCC wall panels under sustained axial loading, with a 20% axial load ratio for the concrete. The ultimate axial strength test is conducted after the long-term tests of SCC wall panels featuring headed studs of different configurations. The long-term outcomes correspond well with the ACI209 predictive model, providing information on assessing creep and shrinkage effects over extended durations. It is noted that SCC specimens without headed studs demonstrate a considerable reduction in both final shrinkage strains and creep coefficients relative to plain concrete specimens, and the presence of headed studs leads to further reductions. In addition, this paper explores the effect of different types of headed stud arrangements on the creep and shrinkage behaviour. However, no significant influence is observed from staggered arrangements versus parallel arrangements. The ultimate axial strength test shows a reduction in the ultimate axial strength in the loaded specimens compared with the unloaded specimens, while the failure modes are similar among different specimens, which are local buckling of steel faceplates. This paper concludes with a comparative analysis, comprising both long-term and ultimate axial strength test results against prevailing building standards, providing valuable insights for future design and construction of SCC walls.

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