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Treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC) often arises from adenocarcinoma via lineage plasticity in response to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, such as enzalutamide. However, the specific regulators and targets involved in the transition to NEPC are not well understood. Plexin D1 (PLXND1) is a cellular receptor of the semaphorin (SEMA) family that plays important roles in modulating the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion. Here, we found that PLXND1 was highly expressed and positively correlated with neuroendocrine markers in patients with NEPC. High PLXND1 expression was associated with poorer prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Additionally, PLXND1 was upregulated and negatively regulated by androgen receptor signaling in enzalutamide-resistant cells. Knockdown or knockout of PLXND1 inhibited neural lineage pathways, thereby suppressing NEPC cell proliferation, patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumor organoid viability, and xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistically, the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) regulated PLXND1 protein stability through degradation, and inhibition of HSP70 decreased PLXND1 expression and NEPC organoid growth. In summary, our findings indicate that PLXND1 could serve as a promising therapeutic target and molecular marker for NEPC.

Olaparib is a pioneering PARP inhibitor (PARPi) approved for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tumors harboring DNA repair defects, but clinical resistance has been documented. To study acquired resistance, we developed Olaparib-resistant (OlapR) cell lines through chronic Olaparib treatment of LNCaP and C4-2B cell lines. Here, we found that IGFBP3 is highly expressed in acquired (OlapR) and intrinsic (Rv1) models of Olaparib resistance. We show that IGFBP3 expression promotes Olaparib resistance by enhancing DNA repair capacity through activation of EGFR and DNA-PKcs. IGFBP3 depletion enhances efficacy of Olaparib by promoting DNA damage accumulation and subsequently, cell death in resistant models. Mechanistically, we show that silencing IGFBP3 or EGFR expression reduces cell viability and resensitizes OlapR cells to Olaparib treatment. Inhibition of EGFR by Gefitinib suppressed growth of OlapR cells and improved Olaparib sensitivity, thereby phenocopying IGFBP3 inhibition. Collectively, our results highlight IGFBP3 and EGFR as critical mediators of Olaparib resistance.

N-Myc is a key driver of neuroblastoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). One potential way to circumvent the challenge of undruggable N-Myc is to target the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) system that maintains N-Myc levels. Here, we identify heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) as a top partner of N-Myc, which binds a conserved "SELILKR" motif and prevents the access of E3 ubiquitin ligase, STIP1 homology and U-box containing protein 1 (STUB1), possibly through steric hindrance. When HSP70's dwell time on N-Myc is increased by treatment with the HSP70 allosteric inhibitor, STUB1 is in close proximity with N-Myc and becomes functional to promote N-Myc ubiquitination on the K416 and K419 sites and forms polyubiquitination chains linked by the K11 and K63 sites. Notably, HSP70 inhibition significantly suppressed NEPC tumor growth, increased the efficacy of aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibitors, and limited the expression of neuroendocrine-related pathways.

Intelligent early warning of rockburst hazards is critical for ensuring safe and efficient coal mining operations. The utilization of monitoring techniques, such as microseismic (MS), acoustic emission (AE), and electromagnetic radiation (EMR), has become standard practice for monitoring dynamic hazards in mining environments. However, the inherent complexity and unpredictability of the signals generated by these monitoring systems present significant challenges. While the application of deep-learning methods has gained traction in the field of coal-rock dynamic disaster management, their reliance on vast amounts of data and susceptibility to subjective labeling and poor generalization have hindered the achievement of timely, efficient, accurate, and comprehensive warning of rockburst hazards. In response to these challenges, this study applied an unsupervised learning method based on long short-term memory and an autoencoder to identify precursors of rockburst hazards and predict signals. The robustness and universality of the model were evaluated using MS, AE, and EMR data from the mine site. Then, the entropy method was used to comprehensively process the MS, AE, and EMR signals and conduct risk assessment. Finally, impressive results were achieved: the accuracy of precursor recognition reached 99.18% and the fitting rate of signal prediction reached 93%. Through on-site verification, the efficacy of this approach is evidenced by its synchronization with field records, enabling proactive responses to potential rockburst risks. This method is expected to enhance intelligent warning systems and ensure the safety of coal mine activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of resistance to current standard-of-care treatments, such as androgen receptor (AR) targeting therapies, remains a major challenge in the management of advanced prostate cancer. There is an urgent need for therapeutic strategies targeting key resistance drivers, such as AR variants like AR-V7 and steroidogenic enzymes like AKR1C3, to improve outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Here, we designed, synthesized, and characterized a class of LX compounds targeting both AR/AR variants and AKR1C3. Molecular docking indicated that LX compounds bound to the AKR1C3 active sites. LX1 blocked AKR1C3 enzymatic activity, suppressing the conversion of androstenedione into testosterone. LX compounds also reduced AR/AR-V7 expression and downregulated their target genes. In vitro, LX1 inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells resistant to antiandrogens, including enzalutamide, abiraterone, apalutamide, and darolutamide. Treatment with LX1 in vivo significantly decreased tumor growth, lowered serum PSA levels, and reduced intratumoral testosterone levels, without affecting mouse body weight. Furthermore, LX1 overcame resistance to enzalutamide treatment, and the combination of LX1 with enzalutamide further suppressed tumor growth. Collectively, the dual effect of LX1 in reducing intratumoral testosterone and AR signaling, along with its synergy with standard therapies in resistant models, underscores its potential as a valuable treatment option for advanced prostate cancer.