Prostate Cell News Volume 2.35 | Sep 23 2011

UCSB Develops Breakthrough Technology in Identification of Prostate Cancer Cells
A team of researchers has developed a breakthrough technology that can be used to discriminate cancerous prostate cells in bodily fluids from those that are healthy. [Press release from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Press Release | Abstract

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Androgen-Independent Molecular Imaging Vectors to Detect Castration-Resistant and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Scientists evaluated the utility of prostate-specific enhancing sequence, an androgen-independent promoter in castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Pax6 Represses Androgen Receptor-Mediated Transactivation by Inhibiting Recruitment of the Coactivator SPBP
In this study researchers have identified SPBP to act as a transcriptional coactivator of androgen receptor (AR). They also show that Pax6 inhibits SPBP-mediated enhancement of AR activity on the AR target gene probasin promoter, a repression that was partly reversed by increased expression of SPBP. [PLoS One] Abstract

Drug-Tolerant Cancer Cells Show Reduced Tumor-Initiating Capacity: Depletion of CD44⁺ Cells and Evidence for Epigenetic Mechanisms
Here, investigators chronically treated Du145 prostate cancer cells with etoposide, paclitaxel and some experimental drugs (i.e., staurosporine and 2 paclitaxel analogs), which led to populations of drug-tolerant cells. [PLoS One] Abstract

IL-18 Inhibits Growth of Murine Orthotopic Prostate Carcinomas via Both Adaptive and Innate Immune Mechanisms
In this study, the potential of interleukin (IL)-18 as an immunotherapy for prostate cancer was examined using the murine model of prostate carcinoma, RM1 and a bone metastatic variant RM1(BM)/B4H7-luc. [PLoS One] Abstract

Fibroblast Growth Factor and Ornithine Decarboxylase 5′-Untranslated Regions Enable Preferential Expression in Human Prostate Cancer Cells and in Prostate Tumors of PTEN^−/− Transgenic Mice
In this study, scientists have taken advantage of over-expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E in prostate cancer cells to design a viral-based targeting system of prostate cancer. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

ErbB2/Her-2 Regulates the Expression of Akt2 in Prostate Cancer Cells
In this study, the regulation of Akt2 expression in LNCaP, DU145, and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines was investigated. [Prostate] Abstract

XMRV Accelerates Cellular Proliferation, Transformational Activity, and Invasiveness of Prostate Cancer Cells by Downregulating p27^Kip1
Researchers demonstrate that xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related retrovirus (XMRV) infection can accelerate cellular proliferation, enhance transformation, and increase invasiveness of slow growing prostate cancer cells. [Prostate] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Tasquinimod in Men with Minimally Symptomatic Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
The activity of the novel antitumor agent tasquinimod with S100A9 as a molecular target was investigated in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and minimal symptoms. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

HER2 Overcomes PTEN (Loss)-Induced Senescence to Cause Aggressive Prostate Cancer
In this study, scientists show that patients who develop prostate tumors with low levels of PTEN and high levels of HER2/3 have a poor prognosis. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] Abstract

GLIPR1 Tumor Suppressor Gene Expressed by Adenoviral Vector as Neoadjuvant Intraprostatic Injection for Localized Intermediate or High-Risk Prostate Cancer Preceding Radical Prostatectomy
A phase I clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and activity of the neoadjuvant intraprostatic injection of GLIPR1 expressing adenovirus for high-risk localized prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Multicenter Phase II Study of Trabectedin in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
This multicenter phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of trabectedin in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Ann Oncol] Abstract

Genetic Differences May Cause Higher Rates of Prostate Cancer in African-American Men
Genetic differences in prostate cells seem to be a root cause of the prostate cancer disparities between African-American men and white men, according to findings. [Press release from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) discussing research presented at the 4th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, Washington] Press Release

Queen’s Pioneers Prostate Cancer Breakthrough
Scientists have pioneered a new combination treatment for prostate cancer. It combines traditional chemotherapy treatments with two doses of a radioactive chemical which can target areas of the bone affected by prostate cancer. [Queen’s University Belfast] Press Release

Three U-M Researchers Named 2011 MacArthur Fellows
Three University of Michigan (U-M) researchers—a historian, a chemist and a stem cell biologist—are among the 22 new MacArthur Fellows announced by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. [University of Michigan] Press Release

AACR Honors Seven Scientists with Minority-Serving Institution Faculty Scholars in Cancer Research Awards
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recognized leaders in the minority cancer community with the Minority-serving Institution Faculty Scholars in Cancer Research Awards. [American Association for Cancer Research] Press Release

Penn Pharmacologist Receives Grant from Prostate Cancer Foundation to Find New Ways to Fight Drug Resistant Tumors
Trevor Penning, PhD and colleagues have received a 2011 Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award. [University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine] Press Release

Prostate Cancer Drug Abiraterone Launched in UK
A new prostate cancer drug, developed with support from Cancer Research UK, has been launched in the UK following its licensing by the European Medicines Authority. [Cancer Research UK] Press Release

Tokai Raises $23 Million to Support Phase II Development of Prostate Cancer Drug
Tokai Pharmaceuticals raised $23 million in a Series D3 round of financing to support ongoing early clinical development of its lead candidate galeterone (TOK-001). [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News] Press Release

AACR Releases Landmark Cancer Progress Report
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) unveiled the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2011 during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. [American Association for Cancer Research] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

Contract Assay Service Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genome Project (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Research Associate – Development (Precision Therapeutics, Inc.) 

Postdoctoral Fellow in Prostate Cancer Research (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

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