LABORATORY RESEARCH Maspin Expression in Prostate Tumor Cells Averts Stemness and Stratifies Drug Sensitivity Scientists report that, depending on the level of maspin expression, tumor cells in suspension and 3D collagen I manifest the phenotypes of stem-like and dormant tumor cell populations, respectively. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article DGCR8 Is Essential for Tumor Progression following PTEN Loss in the Prostate Investigators showed that deletion of the Dgcr8 gene inhibits tumor progression in a Pten-knockout mouse model of prostate cancer. Dgcr8 loss blocked Pten null‐induced expansion of the basal‐like, but not luminal, cellular compartment. [EMBO Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Hypoxia-Inducible miR-182 Enhances HIF1α Signaling via Targeting PHD2 and FIH1 in Prostate Cancer Investigators showed that hypoxia-responsive miR-182 is regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) at transcriptional level. Prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes and factor inhibiting HIF-1, negative regulators of HIF1 signaling, are direct targets of miR-182. [Sci Rep] Full Article Two Splice Variants of Y Chromosome-Located Lysine-Specific Demethylase 5D Have Distinct Function in Prostate Cancer Cell Line (DU-145) The authors detected two novel splice variants of lysine-specific demethylase 5D with lengths of 2650bp and 2400bp that correspond to the 100 and 80 kDa proteins in the human prostate cancer cell line. The knockdown of two variants using the short interfering RNA approach increased the growth rate of prostate cancer cells and reduced cell apoptosis. [J Proteome Res] Abstract Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Prostate Organoids In Vitro and Its Perturbation by Low-Dose Bisphenol A Exposure Scientists report the construction of a pioneer in vitro human prostate developmental model to study the effects of bisphenol-A. The directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into prostatic organoids in a spatial system was accomplished with precise temporal control of growth factors and steroids. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release | Video CTRP3 Stimulates Proliferation and Anti-Apoptosis of Prostate Cells through PKC Signaling Pathways Researchers investigated the effects and mechanisms of C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) in prostate cells. Proliferation of RWPE-1 prostate cells was evaluated by MTT analyses under treatment with different concentrations of CTRP3 for various exposure times. [PLoS One] Full Article Hypoxia-Induced Autophagy Promotes Human Prostate Stromal Cells Survival and ER-Stress Hypoxia-induced autophagy could promote cell survival and endoplasmic reticula stress in WPMY-1 cells. Cell viability induced by hypoxia could have been decreased by autophagy inhibitors or siRNA interference in two autophagy genes in WPMY-1 cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH The UGT2B28 Sex-Steroid Inactivation Pathway Is a Regulator of Steroidogenesis and Modifies the Risk of Prostate Cancer Progression Investigators examined the relationship among expression of the androgen-inactivating UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)2B28 enzyme, circulating steroid hormone levels, and clinical phenotype in prostate cancer. [Eur Urol] Abstract Everolimus Combined with Gefitinib in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Phase I/II Results and Signaling Pathway Implications The authors tested the combination of mTOR inhibition (everolimus) and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition (gefitinib) in castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Cancer] Abstract |