LABORATORY RESEARCH Acquired Resistance to Zoledronic Acid and the Parallel Acquisition of an Aggressive Phenotype Are Mediated by p38-MAP Kinase Activation in Prostate Cancer Cells Scientists selected and characterized a resistant subline of prostate cancer cells to better understand the mechanisms, by which tumor cells can escape the antitumor effect of zoledronic acid. Notably, compared with DU145 parental cells, DU145R80 developed resistance to apoptosis and anoikis, as well as overexpressed the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and oncoprotein c-Myc. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Differential Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Testosterone in Prostate and Colon Cancer Cell Apoptosis: The Role of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Receptors Scientists explored the cross talk between androgens (testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)) and NGF in regulating apoptosis of prostate and colon cancer cells. DHEA and NGF strongly blunted serum deprivation-induced apoptosis, whereas testosterone induced apoptosis of both cancer cell lines. [Endocrinology] Abstract Induction of DNA Damage and Activating Transcription Factor 3 by Retigeric Acid B, a Novel Topoisomerase II Inhibitor, Promotes Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells Investigators found that retigeric acid B significantly inhibited activity of topoisomerase IIα, leading to remarkable DNA damage in prostate cancer cells as evidenced by a strong induction of γH2AX and DNA fragmentation. [Cancer Lett] Abstract Induced Pluripotency of Human Prostatic Epithelial Cells Investigators attempted to reprogram normal adult human basal prostatic epithelial (E-PZ) cells by forced expression of Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 using lentiviral vectors and obtained embryonic stem cell-like colonies at a frequency of 0.01%. These E-PZ-induced pluripotent stem (iPS)-like cells with normal karyotype gained expression of pluripotent genes typical of iPS cells and lost gene expression characteristic of basal prostatic epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article Variable Metastatic Potentials Correlate with Differential Plectin and Vimentin Expression in Syngeneic Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer Cells To understand the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer metastasis and identify markers with metastatic potential, researchers analyzed protein expression in two syngeneic prostate cancer cells lines PC3-N2 and PC3-ML2 using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and multi-dimensional protein identification technology liquid chromatography matrix assisted laser desorption ionization tandem mass spectrometry. [PLoS One] Full Article Erythropoietin Supports the Survival of Prostate Cancer, but Not Growth and Bone Metastasis Researchers examined the role of erythropoietin (Epo) in prostate cancer (PCa) progression, using in vitro cell culture systems and in vivo bone metastatic assays. They found that Epo did not stimulate the proliferation of PCa cell lines, but did protect PCa cells from apoptosis. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract The Influence of Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor Deficiency on Prostatic Dysplasia in pbARR2-Cre, PTEN Knockout Mice How suppressed growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels impacted growth of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-/- mouse-derived prostate cells (MPPK) was examined by growth and survival signaling of cells cultured in heterozygous (lit/+) or homozygous (lit/lit) serum. Growth and AKT activation of MPPK cells was decreased when cultured in lit/lit serum as compared with lit/+ serum and restored in lit/lit serum supplemented with IGF-I and, to a lesser extent, GH. [Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis] Abstract Brassinin Induces Apoptosis in PC-3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells through the Suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K1 Signaling Cascades Researchers investigated the effects of brassinin (BSN) on the PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/S6K1 activation, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis in PC-3 human prostate cancer. BSN exerted a significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity and reduced constitutive phosphorylation of Akt against androgen-independent PC-3 cells as compared to androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. [Phytother Res] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH Prospective Evaluation of Serum Sarcosine and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial Scientists examined the association between serum sarcosine levels and risk of prostate cancer in 1,122 cases and 1,112 controls in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. A significantly increased risk of prostate cancer was observed with increasing levels of sarcosine. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract Association of the Charlson Comorbidity Index and Hypertension with Survival in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Researchers determined whether the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and hypertension are associated with overall survival (OS) independent of known clinical prognostic factors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The CCI was not independently predictive of OS on univariable and multivariable analyses. [Urol Oncol-Semin Ori] Abstract |