Prostate Cell News Volume 4.19 | May 24 2013

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Acquired Resistance to Zoledronic Acid and the Parallel Acquisition of an Aggressive Phenotype Are Mediated by p38-MAP Kinase Activation in Prostate Cancer Cells
Scientists selected and characterized a resistant subline of prostate cancer cells to better understand the mechanisms, by which tumor cells can escape the antitumor effect of zoledronic acid. Notably, compared with DU145 parental cells, DU145R80 developed resistance to apoptosis and anoikis, as well as overexpressed the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and oncoprotein c-Myc. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Differential Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Testosterone in Prostate and Colon Cancer Cell Apoptosis: The Role of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Receptors
Scientists explored the cross talk between androgens (testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)) and NGF in regulating apoptosis of prostate and colon cancer cells. DHEA and NGF strongly blunted serum deprivation-induced apoptosis, whereas testosterone induced apoptosis of both cancer cell lines. [Endocrinology] Abstract

Induction of DNA Damage and Activating Transcription Factor 3 by Retigeric Acid B, a Novel Topoisomerase II Inhibitor, Promotes Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells
Investigators found that retigeric acid B significantly inhibited activity of topoisomerase IIα, leading to remarkable DNA damage in prostate cancer cells as evidenced by a strong induction of γH2AX and DNA fragmentation. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Induced Pluripotency of Human Prostatic Epithelial Cells
Investigators attempted to reprogram normal adult human basal prostatic epithelial (E-PZ) cells by forced expression of Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 using lentiviral vectors and obtained embryonic stem cell-like colonies at a frequency of 0.01%. These E-PZ-induced pluripotent stem (iPS)-like cells with normal karyotype gained expression of pluripotent genes typical of iPS cells and lost gene expression characteristic of basal prostatic epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Variable Metastatic Potentials Correlate with Differential Plectin and Vimentin Expression in Syngeneic Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer Cells
To understand the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer metastasis and identify markers with metastatic potential, researchers analyzed protein expression in two syngeneic prostate cancer cells lines PC3-N2 and PC3-ML2 using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and multi-dimensional protein identification technology liquid chromatography matrix assisted laser desorption ionization tandem mass spectrometry. [PLoS One] Full Article

Erythropoietin Supports the Survival of Prostate Cancer, but Not Growth and Bone Metastasis
Researchers examined the role of erythropoietin (Epo) in prostate cancer (PCa) progression, using in vitro cell culture systems and in vivo bone metastatic assays. They found that Epo did not stimulate the proliferation of PCa cell lines, but did protect PCa cells from apoptosis. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

The Influence of Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor Deficiency on Prostatic Dysplasia in pbARR2-Cre, PTEN Knockout Mice
How suppressed growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels impacted growth of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-/- mouse-derived prostate cells (MPPK) was examined by growth and survival signaling of cells cultured in heterozygous (lit/+) or homozygous (lit/lit) serum. Growth and AKT activation of MPPK cells was decreased when cultured in lit/lit serum as compared with lit/+ serum and restored in lit/lit serum supplemented with IGF-I and, to a lesser extent, GH. [Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis] Abstract

Brassinin Induces Apoptosis in PC-3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells through the Suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K1 Signaling Cascades
Researchers investigated the effects of brassinin (BSN) on the PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/S6K1 activation, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis in PC-3 human prostate cancer. BSN exerted a significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity and reduced constitutive phosphorylation of Akt against androgen-independent PC-3 cells as compared to androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. [Phytother Res] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Prospective Evaluation of Serum Sarcosine and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Scientists examined the association between serum sarcosine levels and risk of prostate cancer in 1,122 cases and 1,112 controls in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. A significantly increased risk of prostate cancer was observed with increasing levels of sarcosine. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Association of the Charlson Comorbidity Index and Hypertension with Survival in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Researchers determined whether the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and hypertension are associated with overall survival (OS) independent of known clinical prognostic factors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The CCI was not independently predictive of OS on univariable and multivariable analyses. [Urol Oncol-Semin Ori] Abstract

Intermittent Versus Continuous Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Intermittent androgen deprivation is increasingly employed as an alternative to continuous lifelong androgen deprivation therapy for men with advanced or recurrent prostate cancer. The recent results of randomized clinical trials now establish that intermittent androgen deprivation therapy is an approach that should be considered the standard of care for most patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer requiring hormonal therapy. [Curr Urol Rep] Abstract

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Empire Genomics Licenses Novel DNA Biomarker for Use in Diagnosing and Creating a Companion Diagnostic Test for Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer
Empire Genomics announced it has acquired an exclusive license for a patent pending novel genomic biomarker from Cornell University for use in developing a molecular diagnostic test that could help in diagnosing and determining treatment for patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer. [Empire Genomics] Press Release

Clinical Trial Tests Targeting Prostate Cancer Treatment
A new clinical trial is testing whether targeting treatments to a genetic anomaly can lead to better treatments for prostate cancer. The trial is being conducted at 11 sites throughout the country. [University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center] Press Release | Video

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Funds 31 New Research Proposals in FY 2013
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission has completed its review of the 171 applications received in response to its FY 2013 Requests for Applications. The board of directors of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation approved the Commission’s recommendation to fund 31 new proposals with the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund’s $10.4 million FY2013 budget. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund] Press Release

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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 2013 Euroscicon Stem Cell Event Trilogy
June 4-6, 2013
London, United Kingdom

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer (Mount Sinai School)

PCUK Funded PhD Studentship – Prostate Cancer (Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Biology and Cancer Research (University of California San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

PhD Studentship – Investigation into Chemokine Receptor Induced Cell Migration (University of East Anglia)

Researcher – Prostate Cancer (Prostate Cancer UK)

Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms of Advanced Prostate Cancer (Cleveland Clinic)

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