Prostate Cell News Volume 2.17 | May 13 2011

Surgery Reduces Risk of Mortality Due to Prostate Cancer Even for Low-Risk Groups
The study found that surgery reduces the risk that men with prostate cancer (even those with low-risk tumors) will die within 15 years. [Press release from Uppsala Universitet discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]

Microbubble-Delivered Combination Therapy Eradicates Prostate Cancer In Vivo
Researchers prevent tumor growth in prostate-cancer-prone transgenic mice by combining an anti-cancer drug with viral gene therapy delivered by ultrasound-targeted microbubble technology. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

New Marker Offers Hope for More Reliable Detection of Prostate Cancer
A new, promising marker for diagnosing prostate cancer has been discovered by researchers with the aid of a unique method developed. [Press release from Uppsala Universitet discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

New Technology Fuses MRI, Ultrasound to Achieve Targeted Biopsy of Prostate Cancer
A new prostate-imaging technology that fuses MRI with real-time, three-dimensional ultrasound may offer a more exacting method to obtain biopsy specimens from suspicious areas within the organ. [Press release from the University of California, Los Angeles Health System discussing online prepublication in Urologic Oncology Seminars and Original Investigations]

Discovery of Protein’s Role in Prostate Cancer Could Lead to New Treatments
Research shows for the first time the role of a specific protein – α-mannosidase 2C1 (MAN2C1) – in prostate cancer development. The finding is significant because prostate cancer patients with increased levels of MAN2C1 appear to face more aggressive forms of the disease. [Press release from McMaster University discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Prostate-Targeted Radiosensitization Via Aptamer-shRNA Chimeras in Human Tumor Xenografts
Scientists describe the development of prostate-targeted RNAi agents that selectively sensitized prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive cells to ionizing radiation. [J Clin Invest]

Apogossypol Derivative BI-97C1 (Sabutoclax) Targeting Mcl-1 Sensitizes Prostate Cancer Cells to mda-7/IL-24–Mediated Toxicity
Researchers demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) expression with the unique Apogossypol derivative BI-97C1, also called Sabutoclax, is sufficient to sensitize prostate tumors to mda-7/IL-24–induced apoptosis, whereas ABT-737, which lacks efficacy in inhibiting Mcl-1, does not sensitize mda-7/IL-24–mediated cytotoxicity. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Multiple Recognition Assay Reveals Prostasomes As Promising Plasma Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer
Investigators developed an extremely sensitive and specific assay for detection of complex target structures such as microvesicles in which the target is first captured via an immobilized antibody and subsequently detected by using four other antibodies with attached DNA strands. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Targeting Hyaluronidase for Cancer Therapy: Antitumor Activity of Sulfated Hyaluronic Acid in Prostate Cancer Cells
In this study scientists show that sulfated hyaluronic acid (sHA) is a potent inhibitor of prostate cancer. [Cancer Res]

The Selective Class I PI3K Inhibitor CH5132799 Targets Human Cancers Harboring Oncogenic PIK3CA Mutations
This study aimed to clarify the biochemical and antitumor activity of CH5132799 and elucidate the correlation between CH5132799 response and genetic alterations in the PI3K pathway. [Clin Cancer Res]

Role of E-Cadherin in Anti-Migratory and Anti-Invasive Efficacy of Silibinin in Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers hypothesized that promoting the E-cadherin expression in prostate cancer cells by using non-toxic phytochemicals, like silibinin, would prevent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and consequently invasiveness. [Cancer Prev Res]

Upregulation of MAPK Pathway Is Associated with Survival in Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Investigators sought to further analyze the role of both Raf-1 and its downstream target MAPK in the molecular pathogenesis of castrate-resistant prostate cancer. [Br J Cancer]

α-Mannosidase 2C1 Attenuates PTEN Function in Prostate Cancer Cells
Scientists show that α-mannosidase 2C1 inhibits PTEN function in prostate cancer (PC) cells and is associated with a reduction in PTEN function in primary PC. [Nat Commun]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Radical Prostatectomy Versus Watchful Waiting in Early Prostate Cancer
In 2008, researchers reported that radical prostatectomy, as compared with watchful waiting, reduces the rate of death from prostate cancer. After an additional 3 years of follow-up, they now report estimated 15-year results. [N Engl J Med]

Randomized Trial of Autologous Cellular Immunotherapy with Sipuleucel-T in Androgen Dependent Prostate Cancer
Sipuleucel-T, an autologous cellular immunotherapy, was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to determine its biologic activity in androgen dependent prostate cancer. [Clin Cancer Res]

Characterization of Bone Metastases from Rapid Autopsies of Prostate Cancer Patients
Investigators demonstrate, for the first time, a reproducible methodology to obtain high quality clinical tumor tissues metastatic to the bone. [Clin Cancer Res]

Clinical Application of a 3D Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy System
The main objective of this study was to test accuracy of the new 3D method in men undergoing first and follow-up Bx to rule out prostate cancer. [Urol Oncol]

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Reports 2011 First Quarter Financial Results
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

Celgene CEO Sees Blockbusters On Horizon
Celgene Corp’s chief executive said the company would continue to return cash to shareholders through share buybacks even as it invests considerable sums on late stage clinical trials that he expects to result in at least three new blockbuster products. [Reuters]

Astellas and Medivation Announce Initiation of Phase II Clinical Trial of MDV3100 in Hormone-Naive Prostate Cancer Patients
Astellas Pharma Inc. and Medivation, Inc. announced treatment of the first patient in the second new Phase II clinical trial of the investigational drug MDV3100, a triple-acting oral androgen receptor antagonist. [Medivation, Inc. Press Release]

Calypso Medical Completes Installation of First Calypso System in Italy
Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc. announced that Santa Chiara Hospital at the University of Pisa is the first medical center in Italy to offer the Calypso® System to provide accurate, precise, real-time tumor tracking for patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer. [Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc. Press Release]

Jobs are categorized regionally: United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific

Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Prostate Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.