Figure S1. The expressions of ERBB2 and ERBB3 are not increased by androgen deprivation; Figure S2. AR mRNA expression was not significantly decreased by lapatinib in LAPC4-CR cells; Figure S3. Lapatinib can block heregulin stimulated ErbB2 activation in C4-2 cells; Figure S4. Lapatinib decreased AR protein expression at 8h treatement; Figure S5. AR mRNA expression was not significantly decreased by lapatinib or AKT-x in C4-2 cells; Figure S6. AR protein nuclear expression was decreased by siRNA against ERBB2; Figure S7. AKT inhibitor treatment decreased AR protein expression and activity; Figure S8. Silencing PIK3CB expression decreased AR protein expression.
ARTICLE ABSTRACT
Purpose: ErbB2 signaling appears to be increased and may enhance androgen receptor (AR) activity in a subset of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), but agents targeting ErbB2 have not been effective. This study was undertaken to assess ErbB2 activity in abiraterone-resistant prostate cancer and to determine whether it may contribute to AR signaling in these tumors.Experimental Design: AR activity and ErbB2 signaling were examined in the radical prostatectomy specimens from a neoadjuvant clinical trial of leuprolide plus abiraterone and in the specimens from abiraterone-resistant CRPC xenograft models. The effect of ErbB2 signaling on AR activity was determined in two CRPC cell lines. Moreover, the effect of combination treatment with abiraterone and an ErbB2 inhibitor was assessed in a CRPC xenograft model.Results: We found that ErbB2 signaling was elevated in residual tumor following abiraterone treatment in a subset of patients and was associated with higher nuclear AR expression. In xenograft models, we similarly demonstrated that ErbB2 signaling was increased and associated with AR reactivation in abiraterone-resistant tumors. Mechanistically, we show that ErbB2 signaling and subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling stabilizes AR protein. Furthermore, concomitantly treating CRPC cells with abiraterone and an ErbB2 inhibitor, lapatinib, blocked AR reactivation and suppressed tumor progression.Conclusions: ErbB2 signaling is elevated in a subset of patients with abiraterone-resistant prostate cancer and stabilizes AR protein. Combination therapy with abiraterone and ErbB2 antagonists may be effective for treating the subset of CRPC with elevated ErbB2 activity. Clin Cancer Res; 22(14); 3672–82. ©2016 AACR.
