Taxane induces attenuation of the CXCR2/BCL-2 axis and sensitize prostate cancer to platinum-based treatments

Background Taxanes are the most active chemotherapy agents in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, yet resistance almost invariably occurs representing an important clinical challenge. Taxane-platinum combinations have shown clinical benefit in a subset of patients but the mechanistic basis and biomarkers remain elusive. Objective To identify mechanisms and response biomarkers for the antitumor efficacy of taxane-platinum combinations in mCRPC. Design, setting, and participants Transcriptomic data from a publicly available mCRPC dataset of taxane-exposed and naïve patients was analysed to identify response biomarkers and emerging vulnerabilities. Functional and preclinical validation was performed in taxane resistant mCRPC cell lines and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM). Intervention mCRPC cells were treated with docetaxel, cisplatin, carboplatin and the CXCR2 inhibitor, SB265610. Gain and loss of function in culture of CXCR2 was achieved by overexpression or siRNA-silencing. Preclinical assays in GEMM mice tested the anti-tumor efficacy of taxane-platinum combinations. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Proliferation, apoptosis and colony assays measured drug activity in vitro . Preclinical endpoints in mice included growth, survival and histopathology. Changes in CXCR2, BCL-2 and chemokines were analysed by RT-qPCR and Western Blot. Human expression data was analyzed using GSEA, hierarchical clustering and correlation studies. GraphPad Prism software, R-studio, were used for statistical and data analyses. Results and limitations Transcriptomic data from taxane-exposed human mCRPC tumors correlates with a marked negative enrichment of apoptosis and inflammatory response pathways accompanied by a marked downregulation of CXCR2 and BCL-2. Mechanistically, we show that docetaxel treatment inhibits CXCR2 and that BCL-2 downregulation occurs as a downstream effect. Further, we demonstrated that taxane resistance is directly associated to CXCR2 expression and that targeting of CXCR2 sensitizes prostate cancer (PC) cells to cisplatin. Finally, taxane-platinum combinations in vivo are highly synergistic and previous exposure to taxanes sensitizes mCRPC tumors to second line cisplatin treatment. Conclusions Together our data identifies an acquired vulnerability in taxane treated mCRPC patients with potential predictive activity for platinum-based treatments. Patient summary A subset of patients with aggressive and therapy resistant PC benefits from taxane-platinum combination chemotherapy however, we lack biomarkers and mechanistic basis about how that synergistic effect occurs. Here, using patient data and preclinical models, we found that taxanes reduce cancer cell scape mechanisms to chemotherapy-induced cell death, hence turning these cells more vulnerable to additional platinum treatment.