SAT022 A Mechanism Of Resistance To Novel Inhibitors Of The N-Terminal Domain Of Androgen Receptor

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: J. Setiawan: None. N.R. Mawji: None. A.H. Tien: None. R.J. Andersen: Stock Owner; Self; ESSA Pharma. M.D. Sadar: Stock Owner; Self; ESSA Pharma. Background: Androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid hormone receptor and a major therapeutic target in prostate cancer. Antiandrogen therapies directed at the AR C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD) provide initial benefit to patients with advanced prostate cancer, but they eventually progress to lethal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). AR N-terminal domain (NTD) inhibitors are a novel class of antagonists that were developed to overcome resistance mechanisms related to the AR-LBD, including splice variants lacking the LBD (AR-V7). While mutations in the AR-LBD have been well-characterized, the impact of NTD mutations on AR transcriptional activity and drug efficacy remains unclear. The mutation W435L was discovered from clinical samples of prostate cancer from patients treated with antiandrogens. This mutation stabilizes interaction between the AR’s NTD and LBD (N/C interaction) to increase AR transcriptional activity. Tryptophan residues W435 and W397 in AR NTD are essential in the binding site for the AR-NTD inhibitor EPI-7386 that is currently in clinical trials. We hypothesize that tryptophan mutations within the EPI-7386 binding site of AR are a potential mechanism of resistance. Methods: Site-directed mutagenesis was used to create expression vectors with W435 and W397 point mutations in AR. Plasmids were transfected into AR-negative CV-1 cells to compare the transcriptional activity of wild-type (WT) versus mutant ARs. IC50s for each inhibitor were generated for androgen-induced reporter gene constructs. A mammalian two-hybrid system assay was used to assess the impact of inhibitors and AR mutations on N/C interaction. Results: The AR-W435L mutation led to higher IC50s to inhibit androgen-induced MMTV-luciferase activity by NTD inhibitors and antiandrogens. Differences in N/C interaction were observed between WT and mutant ARs treated with EPI-7386. Importantly, the ability of another EPI analog, EPI-7170, to decrease AR-N/C interaction was not significantly impacted by W435L. These data support that loss of efficacy with EPI-7386 is not across the entire class of EPI analogs and may be specific to EPI-7386. Conclusion: Tryptophan mutations in the EPI-7386 binding site are predictive of resistance to this specific antagonist and do not broadly apply to the entire class of EPI analogs. Key differences were revealed between AR-LBD and AR-NTD inhibitors that support the recruitment of different tau regions in the NTD. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023