Nane Kuznik - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Nane Kuznik

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Papers by Nane Kuznik

Research paper thumbnail of Small molecule BAG1L inhibitors for the treatment of androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Bag-1L as a therapeutic target in androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

eLife, Aug 10, 2017

Targeting the activation function-1 (AF-1) domain located in the N-terminus of the androgen recep... more Targeting the activation function-1 (AF-1) domain located in the N-terminus of the androgen receptor (AR) is an attractive therapeutic alternative to the current approaches to inhibit AR action in prostate cancer (PCa). Here we show that the AR AF-1 is bound by the cochaperone Bag-1L. Mutations in the AR interaction domain or loss of Bag-1L abrogate AR signaling and reduce PCa growth. Clinically, Bag-1L protein levels increase with progression to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) and high levels of Bag-1L in primary PCa associate with a reduced clinical benefit from abiraterone when these tumors progress. Intriguingly, residues in Bag-1L important for its interaction with the AR AF-1 are

Research paper thumbnail of ARv7 Represses Tumor-Suppressor Genes in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Cancer cell, 2019

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) benefits patients with early disease, but ... more Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) benefits patients with early disease, but becomes ineffective as PCa progresses to a castration-resistant state (CRPC). Initially CRPC remains dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling, often through increased expression of full-length AR (ARfl) or expression of dominantly active splice variants such as ARv7. We show in ARv7-dependent CRPC models that ARv7 binds together with ARfl to repress transcription of a set of growth-suppressive genes. Expression of the ARv7-repressed targets and ARv7 protein expression are negatively correlated and predicts for outcome in PCa patients. Our results provide insights into the role of ARv7 in CRPC and define a set of potential biomarkers for tumors dependent on ARv7.

Research paper thumbnail of Bag-1L: a promising therapeutic target for androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

Androgens are important determinants of normal and malignant prostate growth. They function by bi... more Androgens are important determinants of normal and malignant prostate growth. They function by binding to the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (AR). All clinically approved AR targeting antiandrogens for prostate cancer therapy function by competing with endogenous androgens. Despite initial robust responses to androgen deprivation therapy, nearly all patients with advanced prostate cancer relapse with lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Progression to CRPC is associated with ongoing androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which in part, is due to the expression of constitutively active AR splice variants that contain the N-terminus of the receptor but lack the C-terminus. Currently, there are no approved therapies specifically targeting the AR N-terminus. Current pharmacologic targeting strategies for inhibiting the AR N-terminal region have proven difficult, due to its intrinsically unstructured nature and lack of enzymatic activity. An alt...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a Benzothiazole Scaffold-Based Androgen Receptor NTerminal Inhibitor for Treating Androgen-Responsive Prostate Cancer

All current clinically approved androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer target the C-t... more All current clinically approved androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer target the C-terminal ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor (AR). However, the main transactivation function of the receptor is localized at the AR N-terminal domain (NTD). Targeting the AR NTD directly is a challenge because of its intrinsically disordered structure and the lack of pockets for drugs to bind. Here, we have taken an alternative approach using the cochaperone BAG1L, which interacts with the NTD, to develop a novel AR inhibitor. We describe the identification of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzothiazole (A4B17), a small molecule that inhibits BAG1L-AR NTD interaction, attenuates BAG1L-mediated AR NTD activity, downregulates AR target gene expression, and inhibits proliferation of AR-positive prostate cancer cells. This compound represents a prototype of AR antagonists that could be key in the development of future prostate cancer therapeutics.

Research paper thumbnail of Small molecule BAG1L inhibitors for the treatment of androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Bag-1L as a therapeutic target in androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

eLife, Aug 10, 2017

Targeting the activation function-1 (AF-1) domain located in the N-terminus of the androgen recep... more Targeting the activation function-1 (AF-1) domain located in the N-terminus of the androgen receptor (AR) is an attractive therapeutic alternative to the current approaches to inhibit AR action in prostate cancer (PCa). Here we show that the AR AF-1 is bound by the cochaperone Bag-1L. Mutations in the AR interaction domain or loss of Bag-1L abrogate AR signaling and reduce PCa growth. Clinically, Bag-1L protein levels increase with progression to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) and high levels of Bag-1L in primary PCa associate with a reduced clinical benefit from abiraterone when these tumors progress. Intriguingly, residues in Bag-1L important for its interaction with the AR AF-1 are

Research paper thumbnail of ARv7 Represses Tumor-Suppressor Genes in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Cancer cell, 2019

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) benefits patients with early disease, but ... more Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) benefits patients with early disease, but becomes ineffective as PCa progresses to a castration-resistant state (CRPC). Initially CRPC remains dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling, often through increased expression of full-length AR (ARfl) or expression of dominantly active splice variants such as ARv7. We show in ARv7-dependent CRPC models that ARv7 binds together with ARfl to repress transcription of a set of growth-suppressive genes. Expression of the ARv7-repressed targets and ARv7 protein expression are negatively correlated and predicts for outcome in PCa patients. Our results provide insights into the role of ARv7 in CRPC and define a set of potential biomarkers for tumors dependent on ARv7.

Research paper thumbnail of Bag-1L: a promising therapeutic target for androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

Androgens are important determinants of normal and malignant prostate growth. They function by bi... more Androgens are important determinants of normal and malignant prostate growth. They function by binding to the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (AR). All clinically approved AR targeting antiandrogens for prostate cancer therapy function by competing with endogenous androgens. Despite initial robust responses to androgen deprivation therapy, nearly all patients with advanced prostate cancer relapse with lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Progression to CRPC is associated with ongoing androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which in part, is due to the expression of constitutively active AR splice variants that contain the N-terminus of the receptor but lack the C-terminus. Currently, there are no approved therapies specifically targeting the AR N-terminus. Current pharmacologic targeting strategies for inhibiting the AR N-terminal region have proven difficult, due to its intrinsically unstructured nature and lack of enzymatic activity. An alt...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a Benzothiazole Scaffold-Based Androgen Receptor NTerminal Inhibitor for Treating Androgen-Responsive Prostate Cancer

All current clinically approved androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer target the C-t... more All current clinically approved androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer target the C-terminal ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor (AR). However, the main transactivation function of the receptor is localized at the AR N-terminal domain (NTD). Targeting the AR NTD directly is a challenge because of its intrinsically disordered structure and the lack of pockets for drugs to bind. Here, we have taken an alternative approach using the cochaperone BAG1L, which interacts with the NTD, to develop a novel AR inhibitor. We describe the identification of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzothiazole (A4B17), a small molecule that inhibits BAG1L-AR NTD interaction, attenuates BAG1L-mediated AR NTD activity, downregulates AR target gene expression, and inhibits proliferation of AR-positive prostate cancer cells. This compound represents a prototype of AR antagonists that could be key in the development of future prostate cancer therapeutics.

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