LABORATORY RESEARCH SOX9 Drives WNT Pathway Activation in Prostate Cancer The authors performed SOX9 ChIP sequencing analysis and transcriptome profiling of prostate cancer cells and determined that SOX9 positively regulates multiple WNT pathway genes, including those encoding WNT receptors and the downstream β-catenin effector TCF4. [J Clin Invest] Full Article Prostate Epithelial Cell of Origin Determines Cancer Differentiation State in an Organoid Transformation Assay Investigators transduced primary human prostate basal and luminal cells with lentiviruses expressing c-Myc and activated AKT1 (myristoylated AKT1 or myrAKT1) to mimic the MYC amplification and PTEN loss commonly detected in human prostate cancer. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article Knocking Down TMPRSS2-ERG Fusion Oncogene by siRNA Could Be an Alternative Treatment to Flutamide Investigators wanted to compare or combine a developed siRNA to flutamide (FLU), one of the gold-standard treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, concomitant or subsequent association of FLU to siRNA TMPRSS2-ERG was performed in VCaP cells and in SCID mice bearing xenografted VCaP tumors. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article SOCS3 Modulates the Response to Enzalutamide and Is Regulated by AR Signaling and CpG Methylation in Prostate Cancer Cells Researchers revealed that the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) promoter is hypermethylated in cancerous regions compared to adjacent benign tissue in prostate cancer using methylation-specific qPCR. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article Immunogenicity and Efficacy of the Novel Cancer Vaccine Based on Simian Adenovirus and MVA Vectors Alone and in Combination with PD-1 mAb in a Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer Scientists explored the immunogenic properties and protective efficacy of a novel prostate cancer immunotherapy based on the heterologous prime-boost viral-vectored vaccination platform. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Full Article Co-Targeting Prostate Cancer Epithelium and Bone Stroma by Human Osteonectin-Promoter-Mediated Suicide Gene Therapy Effectively Inhibits Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Growth The authors sought to create a promising gene therapy approach that co-targets cancer and its supporting stromal cells for combating castration-resistant prostate tumors. [PLoS One] Full Article Combined AKT and MEK Pathway Blockade in Pre-Clinical Models of Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer Investigators explored co-targeting of pathways in androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer models. Using various in vitro models of prostate cancer disease states including androgen dependent, castrate resistant prostate cancer and ENZ-resistant prostate cancer, they evaluated the relevance of targeting both AKT and MEK pathways. [PLoS One] Full Article CLINICAL RESEARCH A Randomized Phase II Trial of Short-Course Androgen Deprivation Therapy with or without Bevacizumab for Patients with Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Definitive Local Therapy The purpose of this randomized Phase II trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of short-course androgen deprivation therapy with or without bevacizumab in men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract Androgen-Deprivation Therapy Plus Chemotherapy in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Scientists assessed the efficacy and toxicity of androgen-deprivation therapy plus chemotherapy in patients with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer. [Urol Oncol] Abstract |