Prostate Cell News Volume 6.15 | May 1 2015

Inhibition of Plk1 Represses Androgen Signaling Pathway in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Scientists assessed the effects of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) on androgen receptor (AR) signaling in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. They demonstrated that the expression level of Plk1 correlated with tumorigenicity and that inhibition of Plk1 caused reduction of AR expression and AR activity. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Resveratrol Activates Autophagic Cell Death in Prostate Cancer Cells via Downregulation of STIM1 and the mTOR Pathway
Investigators showed that resveratrol (RSV) activated autophagic cell death in PC3 and DU145 cells, which was dependent on stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) expression. RSV treatment decreased STIM1 expression in a time-dependent manner and attenuated STIM1 association with TRPC1 and Orai1. [Mol Carcinog] Full Article

Adipocyte-Derived Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) Promotes Prostate Cancer Progression through the Induction of MMP-2 Activity
Scientists investigated the biological role of MCP-1 secreted from adipocytes for prostate cancer cells. To characterize the physiological function of MCP-1 in the conditioned medium, they performed an MTT-assay, a wound-healing and invasion assay with anti-MCP-1 antibody using three prostate cancer cell lines: DU145, LNCaP, and PC-3. [Prostate] Abstract

Metformin Represses Androgen-Dependent and Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancers by Targeting Androgen Receptor
Metformin treatment reduced cell viability and enhanced apoptosis for the androgen-dependent LNCaP and the androgen-independent 22RV1 cell lines and additive effects were observed when LNCaP cells were treated with combined metformin and bicalutamide. Metformin down-regulated full-length androgen receptor protein in LNCaP cells. [Prostate] Abstract

MicroRNA-302a Suppresses Tumor Cell Proliferation by Inhibiting AKT in Prostate Cancer
The authors investigated the role of microRNA (miRNA)-302a in prostate cancer (PCa). Cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were performed on PCa cells that stably expressed miRNA-302a. [PLoS One] Full Article

mLST8 Promotes mTOR-Mediated Tumor Progression
Knockdown of mLST8 significantly suppressed mTORC1 and mTORC2 complex formation, and it also inhibited tumor growth and invasiveness in human colon carcinoma and prostate cancer cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Increased Acid Ceramidase Expression depends on Upregulation of Androgen-Dependent Deubiquitinases, USP2, in a Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line, LNCaP
USP2 siRNA decreased acid ceramidase (ACDase protein), while USP2 overexpression increased ACDase protein of LNCaP cells. However, SKP2, an ubiquitin E3 ligase, known to be active in prostate cancer, did not affect androgen-dependent ACDase expression in LNCaP cells. [J Biochem] Abstract

Docetaxel in Combination with Octreotide Shows Synergistic Apoptotic Effect by Increasing SSTR2 and SSTR5 Expression Levels in Prostate and Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Researchers investigated the possible synergistic apoptotic effects of docetaxel in combination with octreotide in prostate and breast cancer cell lines. [Cancer Chemother Pharmacol] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

A Randomized Phase II Trial of Sipuleucel-T with Concurrent vs Sequential Abiraterone Acetate plus Prednisone in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer
This Phase II open-label study evaluated the effect of concurrent or sequential administration of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone on sipuleucel-T manufacture and immune responses in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

AZD3514, an Oral Selective Androgen Receptor Down-Regulator in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer – Results of Two Parallel First-In-Human Phase I Studies
In study 1 and 2, castration-resistant prostate cancer patients were initially recruited into a once daily oral schedule. In study 1, pharmacokinetic assessments led to twice daily dosing to increase exposure. Study 2 explored a once daily schedule. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

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

CPRIT Awards Two New Academic Research Grants
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) awarded two grants through its academic research program. The grants, totaling six million dollars, support the recruitment of two top cancer scientists to academic institutions in Texas, including a promising emerging researcher pursuing her first faculty appointment and an outstanding early-stage researcher. [CPRIT] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Free Cell Stem Cell wallchart – Directed Differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs. Request your copy.

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)

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Abnormal DNA Methylation on Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness (Cleveland Clinic)

Scientific Officer – Prostate Oncobiology (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Prostate Cell Biology & Cancer (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA))

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genitourinary Cancers (Geisinger Health System)

Cancer Biologist (Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Development, Progression and Chemotherapy Resistance of Cancers (University of Maryland School of Medicine)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.