Prostate Cell News Volume 1.46 | Dec 3 2010

BC Researchers Use “Virtual Screening” to Fight the Deadliest Forms of Prostate Cancer
Two Vancouver researchers are tackling the deadliest forms of prostate cancer using a brand new field of genomics called computational chemogenomics. This new approach uses computer modeling in virtual 3D to predict how different chemicals or drugs will affect cancer tumours. [Vancouver Prostate Centre Press Release]

Study Supports ‘Active Surveillance’ for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer
Retirement-age men with slow-growing prostate cancer may wish to consider monitoring their disease rather than being treated immediately, according to a new study. [Press release from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discussing online prepublication in the Journal of the American Medical Association]

“Watchful Waiting” Has a New Set of Eyes – New Prostate Cancer Imaging Shows Real-Time Tumor Metabolism
A UCSF research collaboration with GE Healthcare has produced the first results in humans of a new technology that promises to rapidly assess the presence and aggressiveness of prostate tumors in real time, by imaging the tumor’s metabolism. [University of California, San Francisco Press Release]

High Dietary Fat, Cholesterol Linked To Increase Risk Of Prostate Cancer
The study demonstrates how mice eating a Western diet, and predisposed to develop prostate cancer, can develop larger tumors that are faster growing and metastasize more easily to the lungs, compared to animals eating a control diet. [Press release from Medical News Today discussing online prepublication in The American Journal of Pathology]

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LABORATORY RESEARCH

Bmi-1 Is a Crucial Regulator of Prostate Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Malignant Transformation
The Polycomb group transcriptional repressor Bmi-1 is often upregulated in prostate cancer, but its functional roles in prostate stem cell maintenance and prostate cancer are unclear. Loss- and gain-of-function analysis in a prostate sphere assay indicates that Bmi-1 expression is required for self-renewal activity and maintenance of p63+ stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell]

A Western-Type Diet Accelerates Tumor Progression in an Autochthonous Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer
In the present study, researchers have examined the role of dietary fat and cholesterol in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer using the well-characterized TRAMP mouse model. [Am J Pathol]

Analysis of Oligo-Arginine Cell-Permeable Peptides Uptake by Prostate Cells
Recently, researchers have shown that oligo-arginine peptide (i.e., R11), a unique cell-permeable peptide, can be used as an imaging probe for prostate cancer detection. In this study, the mechanism(s) of oligo-arginine peptide in prostate cells was further analyzed. [Amino Acids]

PI3 Kinase Integrates Akt and MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways in the Regulation of Prostate Cancer
PI3 kinase (PI3K), Akt and MAP kinase (MAPK) pathways are central to many classical signaling cascades and are often de-regulated in many cancers. Due to this, inhibitors for a number of key signaling molecules in these pathways such as PI3K, Akt, mTOR, Raf and ERK are currently in clinical trials. In the current study, researchers investigated the effects of specific inhibition of these signaling molecules, alone or in combinations, on prostate cancer cells. [Int J Oncol]

Gene Promoter Methylation and its Potential Relevance in Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Researchers investigated hypermethylation of the glutathione S-transferase pi, retinoic acid receptor beta2, adenomatous polyposis coli and paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 gene promoters which could serve as a sensitive tool to indicate a risk of prostate cancer even in histologically tumor-free tissues. [Pathobiology]

Autophagy is Increased in Prostate Cancer Cells Overexpressing Acid Ceramidase and Enhances Resistance to C(6) Ceramide
In addition to their ability to metabolize ceramide produced in response to stress, researchers show here that prostate cancer cell lines overexpressing acid ceramidase also have increased lysosomal density and increased levels of autophagy. [Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Active Surveillance Compared with Initial Treatment for Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: a Decision Analysis
The objective of this study was to examine the quality-of-life benefits and risks of active surveillance compared with initial treatment for men with low-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer. [JAMA]

Outcomes of Active Surveillance (AS) for Men With Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
Selected men with intermediate-risk features may be appropriate candidates for AS, and are not necessarily more likely to progress. AS for these men may provide an opportunity to further reduce overtreatment of disease that is unlikely to progress to advanced cancer. [J Clin Oncol]

Prostate Cancer Risk in the Swedish AMORIS Study: The Interplay Among Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, and Glucose
In a cohort including 5112 prostate cancer (pCa) patients, the authors investigated associations among triglycerides, total cholesterol and pCa while taking into account glucose. [Cancer]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Avodart Reviewed by FDA Advisory Committee for Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction
GlaxoSmithKline announced the results of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the supplemental New Drug Application for Avodart® (dutasteride) for reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men at risk for the disease, defined as those who have had a prior negative biopsy due to clinical concern and have an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen. [GlaxoSmithKline Press Release]

MU Cancer Scientists Form New Company With International Pharmaceutical Firm
Shasun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., one of the world’s leading suppliers of ibuprofen, formed the new company in partnership with the University of Missouri (MU) nanomedicine experts Kattesh Katti, PhD, and Raghuraman Kannan, PhD. The scientists are developing a promising prostate cancer treatment that uses gold nanoparticles they created at the university. [Kansas City Star]

West Penn Allegheny Oncologists Help Pioneer First FDA-Approved Cancer Vaccine
West Penn Allegheny Health System physicians are among the first in the nation to treat advanced prostate cancer with Provenge (sipuleucel-T), a breakthrough immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. West Penn Allegheny Oncology was also the first practice in the Pittsburgh region to begin prescribing the therapy upon its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2010. [West Penn Allegheny Health System Press Release]

Medivation and Astellas Complete Enrollment in Phase 3 Affirm Trial of MDV3100 in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Medivation, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that patient enrollment was completed on November 15, 2010 in the Phase 3 AFFIRM study of the investigational drug MDV3100, a novel, triple-acting oral androgen receptor antagonist, in patients with advanced prostate cancer who have previously been treated with chemotherapy. The companies also announced that clinical development of MDV3100 in Japan has commenced, with the initiation of patient dosing in a Phase 1-2 clinical study. [Medivation, Inc. Press Release]