Effect of MPC309 (AR-targeting Multivalent Peptoid Conjugate) treatment on gene expression in LNCaP-ABL cells (castration-resistant prostate cancer cell line) in comparison to Vehicle control and another AR ligand, Ethisterone (partial agonist): RNA-Seq

Prostate cancers evolve to resist androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors, such as enzalutamide, leading to castration resistance due to sustained AR expression and function. In response, we have designed a novel strategy to regulate the AR and suppress castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) by employing multivalent peptoid conjugates (MPCs). These conjugates comprise multiple copies of the AR-targeting ligand ethisterone attached to a peptidomimetic framework. To pinpoint the genes and pathways impacted by MPC309, we performed RNA-sequencing on LNCaP-abl cells, which were treated overnight with various agents: vehicle (DMSO), peptoid backbone, MPC309, dihydrotestosterone (an AR activator), or enzalutamide (an AR inhibitor commonly used clinically). Our findings revealed unique gene expression patterns (transcriptomes) in cells exposed to each compound, indicating that MPC309 may be a new AR ligand influencing the AR transcriptional response. Overall design: LNCaP-abl cells were cultured under androgen deprivation and treated with vehicle (DMSO), 1µM peptoid backbone lacking the ethisterone moieties, 1µM MPC309, 10nM DHT, or 10µM enzalutamide overnight, and RNA-seq performed. The experiment was performed in duplicate. Gene expression profiling analysis was performed and analyzed.