Prostate Cell News Volume 5.15 | May 2 2014

Epidithiodiketopiperazines (ETPs) Exhibit In Vitro Antiangiogenic and In Vivo Antitumor Activity by Disrupting the HIF-1alpha/p300 Complex in a Preclinical Model of Prostate Cancer
Several members of the ETP family of natural products have been shown to disrupt the hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha)/p300 complex in vitro; namely, gliotoxin, chaetocin, and chetomin. Here, scientists further characterized the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of these ETPs using a preclinical model of prostate cancer. [Mol Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Cholesterol-Induced Activation of TRPM7 Regulates Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Viability of Human Prostate Cells
Researchers demonstrated that cholesterol increases Ca²⁺ entry via the TRPM7 channel, which promoted proliferation of prostate cells by inducing the activation of the AKT and/or the ERK pathway. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Full Article

Cross-Communication between Histone H3 and H4 Acetylation and Akt-mTOR Signaling in Prostate Cancer Cells
Scientists evaluated whether cross-communication exists between mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and epigenetic events regulated by histone deacetylase. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Tumor-Suppressive MicroRNA-224 Inhibits Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion via Targeting Oncogenic TPD52 in Prostate Cancer
Scientists found that restoration of microRNA-224 (miR-224) significantly inhibits prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. Additionally, they found that oncogenic TPD52 is a direct target of miR-224 regulation. [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Androgen Receptor Downregulation and Cellular Apoptosis by PMA in Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers investigated the mechanistic action of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in prostate cancer cells with regard to androgen receptor (AR). They showed that PMA decreased E2F-1 as well as AR expression in androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells. [J Mol Endocrinol] Abstract

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors Mediate Apoptosis via Cytosolic Calcium-Dependent Phospholipase A₂ and Migration in Prostate Cancer Cell RM-1
Researchers investigated cytosolic calcium-dependent phospholipase A₂ bridging corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR) activations and Bcl-2:Bax ratio and the effect of CRHR activation on cell migration. [J Mol Endocrinol] Abstract

Hypermethylation-Mediated Transcriptional Repression of TMPRSS2 in Androgen Receptor-Negative Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers demonstrated that androgen receptor-negative prostate cancer cells showed low expression levels and hypermethylation of TMPRSS2. [Exp Biol Med] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Targeting DNA Repair with Combination Veliparib (ABT-888) and Temozolomide in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Scientists assessed the efficacy and safety of low dose oral poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor veliparib and temozolomide in docetaxel-pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in a single-arm, open-label, pilot study. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

Safety, Tolerability and Anti-Tumor Activity of the Androgen Biosynthesis Inhibitor ASP9521 in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Multi-Center Phase I/II Study
In patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, ASP9521 demonstrated dose-proportional increase in exposure over the doses evaluated, with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. However, the novel androgen biosynthesis inhibitor showed no relevant evidence of clinical activity. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

The Efficacy and Safety of Docetaxel Plus Thalidomide vs. Docetaxel Alone in Patients with Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review
Researchers investigated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus thalidomide vs. docetaxel alone for treating androgen-independent prostate cancer. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Restoring TGFß1 Pathway-Related MicroRNAs: Possible Impact in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Development
Researchers summarize the mechanisms underlying Smad-mediated regulation of microRNA biogenesis and the effects on cancer development, particularly in prostate cancer. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the prostate cell research field.

OncoGenex Announces Top-Line Survival Results of Phase III SYNERGY Trial Evaluating Custirsen for Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results from the Phase III SYNERGY trial. Top-line survival results indicate that the addition of custirsen to standard first-line docetaxel/prednisone therapy did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, compared to docetaxel/prednisone alone. [OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
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NEW Research Associate – Prostate Cancer (University of Cambridge)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Therapeutic Targets for Cancer Treatment (Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute)

NEW PhD Position – 3D Cell Culture & Microfluidics: New Insights in Prostate Cancer (CEA French Atomic and Alternative Energies Commission)

NEW Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Nuclear Import Mechanisms for the Androgen Receptor and Its Variants (Cornell University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Cancer (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School)

Studentship – Targeting WW Domain Function in Ubiquitin Ligases Overexpressed in Prostate Cancer (University of East Anglia)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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