Publications by authors named "Sarah Attwell"

Unlabelled: A subgroup of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) aberrantly expresses a gastrointestinal (GI) transcriptome governed by two GI-lineage-restricted transcription factors, HNF1A and HNF4G. In this study, we found that expression of GI transcriptome in CRPC correlates with adverse clinical outcomes to androgen receptor signaling inhibitor treatment and shorter overall survival. Bromo- and extra-terminal domain inhibitors (BETi) downregulated HNF1A, HNF4G, and the GI transcriptome in multiple CRPC models, including cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and patient-derived xenografts, while AR and the androgen-dependent transcriptome were largely spared.

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PB1 is a bromodomain-containing protein hypothesized to act as the nucleosome-recognition subunit of the PBAF complex. Although PB1 is a key component of the PBAF chromatin remodeling complex, its exact role has not been elucidated due to the lack of potent and selective inhibitors. Chemical probes that target specific bromodomains within the complex would constitute highly valuable tools to characterize the function and therapeutic pertinence of PB1 and of each of its bromodomains.

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Purpose: Lineage plasticity in prostate cancer-most commonly exemplified by loss of androgen receptor (AR) signaling and a switch from a luminal to alternate differentiation program-is now recognized as a treatment resistance mechanism. Lineage plasticity is a spectrum, but neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is the most virulent example. Currently, there are limited treatments for NEPC.

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Article Synopsis
  • ZEN-3694, a BET inhibitor, was tested for safety and effectiveness when combined with enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who were resistant to other treatments.
  • In a phase Ib/IIa study, 75 patients participated, with some experiencing significant side effects, but no maximum tolerated dose was reached.
  • The results indicated a median progression-free survival of 9.0 months, suggesting that this combination therapy could be promising, especially for patients with lower androgen receptor activity.
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Bromodomain (BD) and extra-terminal domain containing proteins (BET) are chromatin adapters that bind acetylated histone marks via two tandem BDs, BD1 and BD2, to regulate gene transcription. BET proteins are involved in transcriptional reprogramming in response to inflammatory stimuli. BET BD inhibitors (BETis) that are nonselective for BD1 or BD2 have recognized anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and counter pathology in models of inflammation or autoimmune disease.

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Despite the benefit of statins in reducing cardiovascular risk, a sizable proportion of patients still remain at risk. Since HDL reduces CVD risk through a process that involves formation of pre-beta particles that facilitates the removal of cholesterol from the lipid-laden macrophages in the arteries, inducing pre-beta particles, may reduce the risk of CVD. A novel BET bromodomain antagonist, RVX-208, was reported to raise apoA-I and increase preβ-HDL particles in non-human primates and humans.

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Increased synthesis of Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and HDL is believed to provide a new approach to treating atherosclerosis through the stimulation of reverse cholesterol transport. RVX-208 increases the production of ApoA-I in hepatocytes in vitro, and in vivo in monkeys and humans, which results in increased HDL-C, but the molecular target was not previously reported. Using binding assays and X-ray crystallography, we now show that RVX-208 selectively binds to bromodomains of the BET (Bromodomain and Extra Terminal) family, competing for a site bound by the endogenous ligand, acetylated lysine, and that this accounts for its pharmacological activity.

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Cell spreading and migration are regulated in a Rho family GTPase-dependent manner by growth factors and integrin-mediated cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. The molecular mechanisms involved in the ECM- and growth factor-mediated activation of these small GTPases remain unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate that integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which is a focal adhesion protein activated by both ECM and growth factors, is required for the activation of Rac and Cdc42 in epithelial cells.

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Cell attachment and the assembly of cytoskeletal and signaling complexes downstream of integrins are intimately linked and coordinated. Although many intracellular proteins have been implicated in these processes, a new paradigm is emerging from biochemical and genetic studies that implicates integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and its interacting proteins, such as CH-ILKBP (alpha-parvin), paxillin, and PINCH in coupling integrins to the actin cytoskeleton and signaling complexes. Genetic studies in Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and mice point to an essential role of ILK as an adaptor protein in mediating integrin-dependent cell attachment and cytoskeletal organization.

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