Browsing by Author "Whang, Young E"

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    Cistrome analysis of YY1 uncovers a regulatory axis of YY1:BRD2/4-PFKP during tumorigenesis of advanced prostate cancer.
    (Nucleic acids research, 2021-05) Xu, Chenxi; Tsai, Yi-Hsuan; Galbo, Phillip M; Gong, Weida; Storey, Aaron J; Xu, Yuemei; Byrum, Stephanie D; Xu, Lingfan; Whang, Young E; Parker, Joel S; Mackintosh, Samuel G; Edmondson, Ricky D; Tackett, Alan J; Huang, Jiaoti; Zheng, Deyou; Earp, H Shelton; Wang, Gang Greg; Cai, Ling
    Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a terminal disease and the molecular underpinnings of CRPC development need to be better understood in order to improve its treatment. Here, we report that a transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is significantly overexpressed during prostate cancer progression. Functional and cistrome studies of YY1 uncover its roles in promoting prostate oncogenesis in vitro and in vivo, as well as sustaining tumor metabolism including the Warburg effect and mitochondria respiration. Additionally, our integrated genomics and interactome profiling in prostate tumor show that YY1 and bromodomain-containing proteins (BRD2/4) co-occupy a majority of gene-regulatory elements, coactivating downstream targets. Via gene loss-of-function and rescue studies and mutagenesis of YY1-bound cis-elements, we unveil an oncogenic pathway in which YY1 directly binds and activates PFKP, a gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis, significantly contributing to the YY1-enforced Warburg effect and malignant growth. Altogether, this study supports a master regulator role for YY1 in prostate tumorigenesis and reveals a YY1:BRD2/4-PFKP axis operating in advanced prostate cancer with implications for therapy.
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    Pilot Study of [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET)/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for Staging of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC).
    (Clinical genitourinary cancer, 2020-10) Eulitt, Patrick J; Altun, Ersan; Sheikh, Arif; Wong, Terence Z; Woods, Michael E; Rose, Tracy L; Wallen, Eric M; Pruthi, Raj S; Smith, Angela B; Nielsen, Matthew E; Whang, Young E; Kim, William Y; Godley, Paul A; Basch, Ethan M; David, Grace U; Ramirez, Juanita; Deal, Allison M; Rathmell, W Kimryn; Chen, Ronald C; Bjurlin, Marc A; Lin, Weili; Lee, Joseph K; Milowsky, Matthew I

    Introduction

    Computed tomography (CT) has limited diagnostic accuracy for staging of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel imaging modality incorporating functional imaging with improved soft tissue characterization. This pilot study evaluated the use of preoperative FDG-PET/MRI for staging of MIBC.

    Patients and methods

    Twenty-one patients with MIBC with planned radical cystectomy were enrolled. Two teams of radiologists reviewed FDG-PET/MRI scans to determine: (1) presence of primary bladder tumor; and (2) lymph node involvement and distant metastases. FDG-PET/MRI was compared with cystectomy pathology and computed tomography (CT).

    Results

    Eighteen patients were included in the final analysis, most (72.2%) of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Final pathology revealed 10 (56%) patients with muscle invasion and only 3 (17%) patients with lymph node involvement. Clustered analysis of FDG-PET/MRI radiology team reads revealed a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.56 for detection of the primary tumor with a sensitivity of 0 and a specificity of 1.00 for detection of lymph node involvement when compared with cystectomy pathology. CT imaging demonstrated similar rates in evaluation of the primary tumor (sensitivity, 0.91; specificity, 0.43) and lymph node involvement (sensitivity, 0; specificity, 0.93) when compared with pathology.

    Conclusions

    This pilot single-institution experience of FDG-PET/MRI for preoperative staging of MIBC performed similar to CT for the detection of the primary tumor; however, the determination of lymph node status was limited by few patients with true pathologic lymph node involvement. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential role for FDG-PET/MRI in the staging of MIBC.
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    ZFX Mediates Non-canonical Oncogenic Functions of the Androgen Receptor Splice Variant 7 in Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
    (Molecular Cell, 2018-10) Cai, Ling; Tsai, Yi-Hsuan; Wang, Ping; Wang, Jun; Li, Dongxu; Fan, Huitao; Zhao, Yilin; Bareja, Rohan; Lu, Rui; Wilson, Elizabeth M; Sboner, Andrea; Whang, Young E; Zheng, Deyou; Parker, Joel S; Earp, H Shelton; Wang, Gang Greg