Targeting Ezh2 could overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Huanhui Li
Jian Bai
Guosheng Yang
Wei Wang
Kangjian Lin
Xiaofu Qiu
Bo Cheng
Bijun Li
Journal: BMC Cancer (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Docetaxel; resistance; prostate cancer; Ezh2; miR-101-3p
Affiliations: Department of Urology, Southern Medical University Third Medical College, Guangzhou, 510317, China. ., Department of Urology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, 510515, China., Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524003, China., Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China., Department of Urology, Southern Medical University Third Medical College, Guangzhou, 510317, China., Department of Urology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510317, China.

Abstract:  Background: Docetaxel was used to treat metastatic CRPC patients. However, Doc resistance in prostate cancer (PCa) hinders its clinical application. Objective: To understand the underlying mechanisms by which Doc resistance is developed and to find novel therapeutic target to cure Doc resistant PCa has clinical importance. Methods: We established Doc resistant cell lines and explored the role of Ezh2 in the development of Doc resistance by overexpressing its cDNA or using its inhibitor. Results: We found that Ezh2 was induced in our established Doc resistant (DocR) cells, which was attributable to the silenced expression of miR-101-3p and miR-138-5p. Blockage of Ezh2 activity by either inhibitor or miRNA mimics could overcome Doc resistance by suppressing Doc-induced cancer stem cells populations. Mechanistically, Ezh2 activity was required for the induced expression of Nanog, Sox2 and CD44 upon Doc treatment. Conclusions: Targeting Ezh2 could overcome Doc resistance. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 ,