Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to play a key role in prostate cancer treatment resistance, but the role of CAFs in the initial course of enzalutamide therapy for prostate cancer remains unclear. Our research revealed that CAFs secrete CCL5, which promotes the upregulation of androgen receptor (AR) expression in prostate cancer cells, leading to resistance to enzalutamide therapy. Furthermore, CCL5 also enhances the expression of tumor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), resulting in immune escape. Mechanistically, CCL5 binds to the receptor CCR5 on prostate cancer cells and activates the AKT signaling pathway, leading to the upregulation of AR and PD-L1. The CCR5 antagonist maraviroc to inhibit the CAFs mediated CCL5 signaling pathway can effectively reduce the expression of AR and PD-L1, and improve the efficacy of enzalutamide. This study highlights a promising therapeutic approach targeting the CCL5-CCR5 signaling pathway to improve the effectiveness of enzalutamide.
iScience. 2024 Apr 04*** epublish ***
Zhi Xiong, Shun-Li Yu, Zhao-Xiang Xie, Rui-Lin Zhuang, Shi-Rong Peng, Qiong Wang, Ze Gao, Bing-Heng Li, Jun-Jia Xie, Hai Huang, Kai-Wen Li
Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China., Department of Urology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou 510120, China., Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250063, China.