Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling is associated with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progression. Insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS1/2) mediate mitogenic and anti-apoptotic signaling from IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor and other oncoproteins. This study demonstrates that IRS1/2 expression is increased in PCa and, persists in CRPC. Furthermore, this study assesses the anti-cancer activity of NT157, a small-molecule tyrphostin targeting IRS proteins, using androgen-responsive (LNCaP) and -independent (PC3) prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. NT157 treatment resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of IGF1R activation, suppression of IRS protein expression, inhibition of IGF-1-induced AKT activation, but increased ERK activation in NT157-treated cells in vitro. These effects were correlated with decreased proliferation and increasing apoptosis of LNCaP cells and increasing G2M arrest in PC3 cells. NT157 also suppressed androgen-responsive growth, delayed CRPC progression of LNCaP xenografts and suppressed PC3 tumor growth alone and in combination with docetaxel. This study reports the first preclinical proof-of-principle data that this novel small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting human IRS suppresses IRS1/2 expression, delays CRPC progression, and suppresses growth of CRPC tumors in vitro and in vivo. Demonstration that IRS expression can be increased in response to a variety of stressors that may lead to resistance or reduced effect of the therapies indicate that NT157-mediated IRS1/2 down-regulation is a novel therapeutic approach for management of advanced prostate cancer.

Citation Format: Naokazu Ibuki, Mazyar Ghaffari, Hadas Reuveni, Mitali Pandey, Ladan Fazli, Haruhito Azuma, Martin E. Gleave, Alexander Levitzki, Michael E. Cox. The tyrphostin, NT157, suppresses insulin receptor substrates and augments therapeutic response of prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Targeting the PI3K-mTOR Network in Cancer; Sep 14-17, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B51.

©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.
2015