Abstract 2036: In vitro and in vivo effect of carmustine and selenite combination on EGFR signaling in androgen-independent prostate cancer
Authors: Thamilselvan Vijayalakshmi , Menon Mani , Thamilselvan Sivagnanam 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Despite the use of androgen deprivation therapy, the majority of prostate cancer patients will progress to castration resistant disease within 2-3 years, driven by aberrant androgen receptor activation. We have previously shown that combination of carmustine and selenite effectively induces apoptosis by completely reducing AR and AR-variants in AR-dependent castration resistant prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Although studies have demonstrated that AR signaling is a central mechanism of castration resistant prostate cancer progression, the cell growth mediated by AR-independent signaling is also operative. EGFR signaling has been implicated in the survival, invasion, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in an AR-independent manner. Therefore, in this study, we tested whether the combination of carmustine and selenite could inhibit EGFR signaling, induce apoptosis, and inhibit growth of AR-independent prostate cancer cells in an in vitro cell culture and in vivo xenograft models.

Methods: AR negative PC-3 prostate cancer cell line was used to study the effect of carmustine and selenite alone or in combination on EGFR signaling. Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis in the presence or absence of EGF (50ng/ml) were determined. Dose and time dependent effect of EGF on the activation of EGFR was studied. The carmustine and/or selenite effect on EGF stimulated phospho-EGFR, and its downstream signaling pathways, such as AKT and MAPK, were studied in comparison with inhibitors of EGFR (AG1478) or PI3 kinase (LY294002) or MAPK (PD98059). The in vivo effect of carmustine and selenite was examined on PC-3 tumor growth in athymic nude mice.

Results: Combination of carmustine and selenite treatment in the presence of EGF markedly suppressed cell viability and proliferation of PC-3 cells. EGF exposure increased phospho-EGFR (Tyr845, Tyr992, Tyr1068, and Tyr1045), pAkt (Ser473), and pERK1/2 (Thr204/Tyr202) protein expression levels in PC-3 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The combination treatment exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on EGF stimulated EGFR, Akt, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Combination treatment was able to induce apoptosis even in the presence of EGF. Consistent with in vitro results, combination treatment for 3 weeks reduced PC-3 xenograft tumors in nude mice by 88% without any toxicity. Whereas individual agent treatment showed only partial effect both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions: Our pre-clinical data demonstrate that the combination treatment of carmustine and selenite substantially inhibits EGFR signaling, induces apoptosis, and reduces tumor growth of AR-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Our novel findings suggest that the combination of carmustine and selenite is an effective therapeutic agent for successful treatment, survival, and improved quality of life for patients with prostate cancer.

Citation Format: Vijayalakshmi Thamilselvan, Mani Menon, Sivagnanam Thamilselvan. In vitro and in vivo effect of carmustine and selenite combination on EGFR signaling in androgen-independent prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2036. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2036