Targeting GATA2 in prostate cancer with dilazep (2)

Using a bioinformatics algorithm, we screened in silico 2,650 clinically relevant drugs for a potential GATA2 inhibitor. We identified the vasodilator Dilazep as a potential GATA2 inhibitor. Dilazep exerted anticancer activity across a broad panel of PC cell lines. Global gene expression analysis revealed that dilazep suppressed the GATA2, AR, and cMyc transcriptional programs, including under CRPC conditions. We also documented suppression of cell cycle programs and decreased expression of oncogenic drivers, such as FOXM1, CENPF, EZH2, UBE2C, RRM2, as well as several mediators of metastasis, DNA damage repair and stemness. We provide, based on global gene expression analysis, proof-of-principle evidence that a small molecule can inhibit GATA2 in PC cells and can suppress its downstream AR, cMyc, and other cancer-driving effectors. We propose that GATA2 can be a therapeutic target in CRPC. LNCaP MDV-3100/enzalutamide-resistant (MDV-R) cells were treated with 50 µM dilazep or control for 48h.