The Polycomb Repressor Complex 1 Drives Double-Negative Prostate Cancer Metastasis by Coordinating Stemness and Immune Suppression

Publication date: Available online 18 July 2019Source: Cancer CellAuthor(s): Wenjing Su, Hyun Ho Han, Yan Wang, Boyu Zhang, Bing Zhou, Yuanming Cheng, Alekya Rumandla, Sreeharsha Gurrapu, Goutam Chakraborty, Jie Su, Guangli Yang, Xin Liang, Guocan Wang, Neal Rosen, Howard I. Scher, Ouathek Ouerfelli, Filippo G. GiancottiSummaryThe mechanisms that enable immune evasion at metastatic sites are poorly understood. We show that the Polycomb Repressor Complex 1 (PRC1) drives colonization of the bones and visceral organs in double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC). In vivo genetic screening identifies CCL2 as the top prometastatic gene induced by PRC1. CCL2 governs self-renewal and induces the recruitment of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages and regulatory T cells, thus coordinating metastasis initiation with immune suppression and neoangiogenesis. A catalytic inhibitor of PRC1 cooperates with immune checkpoint therapy to reverse these processes and suppress metastasis in genetically engineered mouse transplantation models of DNPC. These results reveal that PRC1 coordinates stemness with immune evasion and neoangiogenesis and point to the potential clinical utility of targeting PRC1 in DNPC.Graphical Abstract
Source: Cancer Cell - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research