MED15, encoding a subunit of the mediator complex, is overexpressed at high frequency in castration‐resistant prostate cancer. Issue 1 (9th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaikhibrahim, Zaki; Menon, Roopika; Braun, Martin; Offermann, Anne; Queisser, Angela; Boehm, Diana; Vogel, Wenzel; Rüenauver, Kerstin; Ruiz, Christian; Zellweger, Tobias; Svensson, Maria; Andren, Ove; Kristiansen, Glen; Wernert, Nicolas; Bubendorf, Lukas; Kirfel, Jutta; Biskup, Saskia; Perner, Sven
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 135:Issue 1(2014:Jul. 01)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2013-12-09
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28647
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The mediator complex is an evolutionary conserved key regulator of transcription of protein‐coding genes and an integrative hub for diverse signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated whether the mediator subunit MED15 is implicated in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). MED15 expression and copy number/rearrangement status were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization (FISH), respectively on 718 prostate cancer (PCa) specimens and sequenced by Sanger on a subset. Furthermore, SMAD3 phosphorylation, androgen receptor (AR) and proliferation markers were evaluated by IHC. In PCa cells, siRNA/shRNA knockdown of MED15 was followed by proliferation assays with/without dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and treatments with recombinant TGF‐β3. Our results show that <italic>MED15</italic> is overexpressed in 76% of distant metastatic CRPC (CRPC<sup>MET</sup>) and 70% of local‐recurrent CRPC (CRPC<sup>LOC</sup>), in contrast to low frequencies in androgen‐sensitive PCa, and no expression in benign prostatic tissue. Furthermore, <italic>MED15</italic> overexpression correlates with worse clinical outcome thus defining a highly lethal phenotype. Moreover, TGF‐β signaling activation associates with <italic>MED15</italic> overexpression in PCa tissues, and leads to increased expression of MED15 in PCa cells. MED15 knockdown effects phosphorylation and shuttling of p‐SMAD3 to the nucleus as well as TGF‐β‐enhanced proliferation. In PCa tissues, <italic>MED15</italic> overexpression associates with <italic>AR</italic> overexpression/amplification and correlates with high proliferative activity. MED15 knockdown decreases both androgen‐dependent and ‐independent proliferation in PCa cells. Taken together, these findings implicate MED15 in CRPC, and as MED15 is evolutionary conserved, it is likely to emerge as a lethal phenotype in other therapeutic‐resistant diseases, and not restricted to our disease model.</p> </abstract>