Targeting DNA methylation and B7-H3 in RB1-deficient and neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Sci Transl Med. 2023 Nov 15;15(722):eadf6732. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf6732. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

Aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated as a key driver of prostate cancer lineage plasticity and histologic transformation to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are highly expressed, and global DNA methylation is dysregulated in NEPC. We identified that deletion of DNMT genes decreases expression of neuroendocrine lineage markers and substantially reduced NEPC tumor development and metastasis in vivo. Decitabine, a pan-DNMT inhibitor, attenuated tumor growth in NEPC patient-derived xenograft models, as well as retinoblastoma gene (RB1)-deficient castration-resistant prostate adenocarcinoma (CRPC) models compared with RB1-proficient CRPC. We further found that DNMT inhibition increased expression of B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3), an emerging druggable target, via demethylation of B7-H3. We tested DS-7300a (i-DXd), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting B7-H3, alone and in combination with decitabine in models of advanced prostate cancer. There was potent single-agent antitumor activity of DS-7300a in both CRPC and NEPC bearing high expression of B7-H3. In B7-H3-low models, combination therapy of decitabine plus DS-7300a resulted in enhanced response. DNMT inhibition may therefore be a promising therapeutic target for NEPC and RB1-deficient CRPC and may sensitize B7-H3-low prostate cancer to DS-7300a through increasing target expression. NEPC and RB1-deficient CRPC represent prostate cancer subgroups with poor prognosis, and the development of biomarker-driven therapeutic strategies for these populations may ultimately help improve patient outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Decitabine / pharmacology
  • Decitabine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors* / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / drug therapy
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Decitabine
  • Transcription Factors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • RB1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins