Prostate Cell News Volume 3.16 | May 4 2012

The PSA^-/lo Prostate Cancer Cell Population Harbors Self-Renewing Long-Term Tumor-Propagating Cells that Resist Castration
Researchers report distinct molecular, cellular, and tumor-propagating properties of prostate cancer cells that express high and low (PSA^/lo) levels of the differentiation marker PSA. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Androgen Hormone Action in Prostatic Carcinogenesis: Stromal Androgen Receptors Mediate Prostate Cancer Progression, Malignant Transformation, and Metastasis
Investigators demonstrated through genetic loss of function experiments that prostate cancer progression is androgen dependent and that androgen dependency occurs via prostatic stromal androgen receptor (AR) but not epithelial AR. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Androgen Receptor Splice Variants Activate AR Target Genes and Support Aberrant Prostate Cancer Cell Growth Independent of the Canonical AR Nuclear Localization Signal
Scientists showed that truncated androgen (AR) variants with nuclear as well as nuclear/cytoplasmic localization patterns can drive androgen-independent growth of prostate cancer cells. [J Biol Chem]
Full Article

Lxrα Regulates the Androgen Response in Prostate Epithelium
Researchers showed that liver X receptor (Lxr)-α knockout mice develop ventral prostate hypertrophy, correlating with an overaccumulation of secreted proteins in prostatic ducts and an alteration of vesicular trafficking in epithelial cells. [Endocrinology] Abstract

Distinct Expression and Activity of GSK-3α and GSK-3ß in Prostate Cancer
Scientists compared glycogen synthase kinase α (GSK-3α) and GSK-3ß expression in prostate tumors and used gene silencing to study their functions in 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Systemic Delivery of Oncolytic Adenoviruses Targeting Transforming Growth Factor Beta Inhibits Established Bone Metastasis in a Prostate Cancer Mouse Model
Investigators examined if Ad.sTβRFc and TAd.sTβRFc, two oncolytic viruses expressing soluble transforming growth factor β receptor II fused with human Fc, can be developed to treat bone metastasis of prostate cancer. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

Down-Regulation of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase 2 by Androgen Deprivation Induces Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Researchers investigated the relationship between the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) expression level and prognosis. The function of CAMKK2 was assessed by generating CAMKK2 overexpressed LNCaP cells and by knockdown of CAMKK2. [Prostate] Abstract

The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α and -2α in Androgen Insensitive Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers investigated the effects of induction and knocking down of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and/or -2α on tumor biology in androgen insensitive prostate cancer cell lines. [Urol Oncol] Abstract

Deprivation of Arginine by Recombinant Human Arginase in Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers examined levels of gene expression of ornithine carbamoyl transferase and argininosuccinate synthetase , and the effects of recombinant human arginase in human prostate cancer cells. [J Hematol Oncol] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

A Phase II Pharmacodynamic Study of Pre-Operative Figitumumab in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer
Investigators evaluated biologic and clinical effects of figitumumab in patients with localized prostate cancer. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

A Phase I/IIA Study of AGS-PSCA for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Researchers evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of AGS-prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), a fully human monoclonal antibody directed to PSCA in progressive castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Ann Oncol] Abstract

Rye Bread Consumption in Early Life and Reduced Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer
Investigators determine whether consumption of whole-grain rye bread, oatmeal, and whole-wheat bread, during different periods of life, is associated with risk of prostate cancer. [Cancer Causes Control] Abstract

Accuray Launches First Study to Compare CyberKnife® SBRT to Surgery and IMRT for Treatment of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer
Accuray Incorporated announced the launch of the Postate Advances in Comparative Evidence (PACE) study for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. [Accuray] Press Release

Amgen Receives Complete Response Letter from FDA for XGEVA® sBLA for Prevention of Bone Metastases
Amgen announced that the U.S. food and drug administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter for the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for XGEVA® to treat men with castration-resistant prostate cancer at high risk of developing bone metastases. [Amgen] Press Release

Nuclea Biotechnologies Agrees to Research Partnership with Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany
Nuclea Biotechnologies, Inc. announced a new research partnership with the Stratton VA Medical Center and Albany Research Institute. As part of this new collaboration, Nuclea and Stratton will work together on the analysis of samples from patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. [Nuclea Biotechnologies Inc.] Press Release

Chinese Publishers Vow to Cleanse Journals
The China Association for Science and Technology in Beijing has taken the lead among the country’s publishers in trying to clamp down on academic misconduct. [The China Association for Science and Technology, China] 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)

NEW Joint ECCO – AACR – EORTC – ESMO Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research
June 23-29, 2012
Waldhaus Flims, Switzerland

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the prostate cell community.

Research Associate – Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Contract Assay Services (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Epithelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Antibody and Hybridoma Technology Platforms (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software, Inc.)

Clinical Research Associate (Jennerex Biotherapeutics, Inc.)

Research Associate – Development (Precision Therapeutics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate Cancer (University of Colorado)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate Research Scientist – Prostate Cancer (Columbia University Medical Center)

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