The WNT/β-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939 enhances the elimination of LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells by prostate cancer patient lymphocytes in vitro

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 18;9(1):4761. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41182-5.

Abstract

Upregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with increased cancer cell resistance and cancer cell-elicited immunosuppression. In non-neoplastic immune cells, upregulated Wnt/β-catenin is, however, associated with either immunosuppression or immunostimulation. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the therapeutic impact inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling will have when combined with cancer immunotherapy. Here, we evaluated the benefit(s) of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939 in the in vitro elimination of LNCaP prostate cancer cells when cocultured with lymphocytes from patients with localized biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (BRPCa). We found that 5 µM XAV939 inhibited β-catenin translocation to the nucleus in LNCaP cells and CD4+ BRPCa lymphocytes without affecting their proliferation and viability. Preconditioning BRPCa lymphocytes with 5 µM XAV939 accelerated the elimination of LNCaP cells during the coculturing. However, during subsequent re-coculturing with fresh LNCaP cells, BRPCa lymphocytes were no longer able to eliminate LNCaP cells unless coculturing and re-coculturing were performed in the presence of 5 µM XAV939. Comparable results were obtained for PC-3 prostate cancer cells. These findings provide a rationale for combining cell-based immunotherapy of PCa with inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tankyrases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Wnt Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • Wnt Proteins
  • XAV939
  • beta Catenin
  • Tankyrases