Epigenetic regulation profoundly influences the fate of cancer cells and their capacity to switch between lineages by modulating essential gene expression, thereby shaping tumor heterogeneity and therapy response. In castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the intricacies behind androgen receptor (AR)-independent lineage plasticity remain unclear, leading to a scarcity of effective clinical treatments. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing on both human and mouse prostate cancer samples, combined with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and multiple genetically engineered mouse models, we investigated the molecular mechanism of AR-independent lineage plasticity and uncovered a potential therapeutic strategy. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of human prostate cancers, both pre- and post-androgen deprivation therapy, revealed an association between liver kinase B1 (LKB1) pathway inactivation and AR independence. LKB1 inactivation led to AR-independent lineage plasticity and global DNA hypomethylation during prostate cancer progression. Importantly, the pharmacological inhibition of TET enzymes and supplementation with S-adenosyl methionine were found to effectively suppress AR-independent prostate cancer growth. These insights shed light on the mechanism driving AR-independent lineage plasticity and propose a potential therapeutic strategy by targeting DNA hypomethylation in AR-independent CRPC.
© 2024. The Author(s).