Estrogen related receptor alpha in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells promotes tumor progression in bone

Bone metastases are one of the main complications of prostate cancer and they are incurable. We investigated whether and how estrogen receptor-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is involved in bone tumor progression associated with advanced prostate cancer. By meta-analysis, we first found that ERRα expression is correlated with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the hallmark of progressive disease. We then analyzed tumor cell progression and the associated signaling pathways in gain-of-function/loss-of-function CRPC models in vivo and in vitro. Increased levels of ERRα in tumor cells led to rapid tumor progression, with both bone destruction and formation, and direct impacts on osteoclasts and osteoblasts. VEGF-A, WNT5A and TGFβ1 were upregulated by ERRα in tumor cells and all of these factors also significantly and positively correlated withERRα expression in CRPC patient specimens. Finally, high levels of ERRα in tumor cells stimulated the pro-metastatic factor periostin expression in the stroma, suggesting that ERRα regulates the tumor stromal cell microenvironment to enhance tumor progression. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ERRα is a regulator of CRPC cell progression in bone. Therefore, inhibiting ERRα may constitute a new therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer skeletal-related events.

Oncotarget. 2016 Oct 20 [Epub ahead of print]

Anais Fradet, Mathilde Bouchet, Carine Delliaux, Manon Gervais, Casina Kan, Claire Benetollo, Francesco Pantano, Geoffrey Vargas, Lamia Bouazza, Martine Croset, Yohann Bala, Xavier Leroy, Thomas J Rosol, Jennifer Rieusset, Akeila Bellahcène, Vincent Castronovo, Jane E Aubin, Philippe Clézardin, Martine Duterque-Coquillaud, Edith Bonnelye

InsermUMR1033, F-69372 Lyon, France., CNRS-UMR8161, F-59021 Lille, France., Université-Lyon1, F-69008 Lyon, France., University-Campus-Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy., Centre Hospitalier Lille, F-59037 Lille, France., College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus-OH 43210,USA., InsermUMR-U1060, F-69921 Oullins, France., University Liege, B-4000 Liege, Belgium., Department of Molecular Genetics, University-Toronto, Toronto ON M5S 1A8.