Prostate Cell News Volume 7.43 | Nov 25 2016

TOP STORY

Tracking the Dynamics of Circulating Tumor Cell Phenotypes Using Nanoparticle-Mediated Magnetic Ranking

Investigators report a new nanoparticle-enabled method for circulating tumor cells (CTC) characterization, called magnetic ranking cytometry, which profiles CTCs on the basis of their surface expression phenotype. [Nat Nanotechnol] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Systemic Depletion of L-Cyst(e)ine with Cyst(e)inase Increases Reactive Oxygen Species and Suppresses Tumor Growth

Scientists showed that administration of an engineered and pharmacologically optimized human cyst(e)inase enzyme mediates sustained depletion of the extracellular L-cysteine (L-Cys) and L-Cys that is predominantly in its disulfide form pool in mice and non-human primates. Cyst(e)inase suppressed the growth of prostate carcinoma allografts, reduced tumor growth in both prostate and breast cancer xenografts and doubled the median survival time of TCL1-Tg:p53^−/− mice, which develop disease resembling human chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release

Vitamin D3 Prevents Calcium-Induced Progression of Early-Stage Prostate Tumors by Counteracting TRPC6 and Calcium Sensing Receptor Upregulation

Mouse models of fully penetrant and slowly-evolving prostate tumorigenesis showed that a high calcium diet dramatically accelerated the progression of prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, by promoting cell proliferation, micro-invasion, tissue inflammation and expression of acknowledged prostate cancer markers. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Branched Gold Nanoparticle Coating of Clostridium novyi-NT Spores for CT-Guided Intratumoral Injection.

Branched gold nanoparticle (BGNP)-coated Clostridium novyi-NT spores are developed for computed tomography (CT)-guided bacteriolytic tumor therapy. The BGNP-coated spores are successfully injected into a tumor site under CT image guidance. [Small] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SKP2 Loss Destabilizes EZH2 by Promoting TRAF6-Mediated Ubiquitination to Suppress Prostate Cancer

Mechanisms by which EZH2 is regulated in prostate cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer remain elusive. Scientists report that EZH2 is post-transcriptionally regulated by SKP2 in vitro in cultured cells and in vivo in mouse models. [Oncogene] Abstract

Stable Upconversion Nanohybrid Particles for Specific Prostate Cancer Cell Immunodetection

Researchers successfully designed and developed upconversion immune-nanohybrids with sustainable stability in a physiological environment, stable optical properties and highly specific targeting capability for early-stage prostate cancer cell detection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Chrysophanic Acid Reduces Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats by Suppressing 5α-Reductase and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase

The authors demonstrated the effects of chrysophanic acid on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in testosterone propionate-induced BPH rats by measuring the prostate tissue weight, examining the histological changes, and evaluating the major factors involved in the biology of BPH such as prostate specific antigen, 5 androgen receptor (AR), AR, SRC1, estrogen receptor α, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Efflux Transporter ABCG2 Maintains Prostate Stem Cells

Researchers identified the mechanism by which the prostate stem cell marker, ATP binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) plays a role in prostate stem cell maintenance and provides a rationale for targeting ABCG2 for differentiation therapy in prostate cancer. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

miR-3619-5p Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Growth by Activating CDKN1A Expression

Scientists identified a new endogenous miR-3619-5p which was decreased in prostate cancer tissues and cells compared to corresponding normal controls. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Strategies to Avoid Treatment-Induced Lineage Crisis in Advanced Prostate Cancer

The authors assess the hypothesis that treatment-adapted phenotypes harbor reduced androgen receptor expression and/or activity, and acquire compensatory strategies for cell survival. [Nat Rev Clin Oncol] Abstract

The Role of GATA2 in Lethal Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness

Scientists provide insight into the key function that endothelial transcription factor GATA-2 (GATA2), a transcription factor classically linked with hematopoiesis, exerts as a mediator of prostate cancer progression in both an androgen receptor (AR)-dependent and AR-independent manner and through the early to late stages of the disease. [Nat Rev Urol] Abstract

Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers of Prostate, Bladder, and Kidney Cancer

Researchers explore the current state of circulating tumor cells research in each of these diseases, summarizing the most clinically relevant publications as well as studies of emerging technologies that have achieved particular attention within the field. [Nat Rev Urol] Abstract

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

International Isotopes Inc. Submits Abbreviated New Drug Application for Sodium Iodide I-131

International Isotopes Inc. announced that it has submitted an abbreviated new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its I3odine/MAX™ sodium iodide radiopharmaceutical product. This is the first application submitted to the FDA by any company for a generic sodium iodide product, and that status should justify an expedited FDA review. [International Isotopes Inc.] Press Release

$25 Million Awarded to Center for Study of Regulatory Science

The FDA is funding a collaboration between Stanford and the University of California, San Francisco to improve the regulatory infrastructure that helps to shape modern biomedical research. [Stanford Medicine] Press Release

Salk Institute Awarded $25 Million Grant from Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies has received a $25 million grant—a renewal of the largest research gift in the Institute’s 56-year history—that will be used to continue exploring an ambitious range of projects aimed at understanding the role chronic inflammation plays in driving human disease. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies] Press Release

Center for Regenerative Medicine Receives Three Prestigious NIH Awards To Further Stem Cell Research

The Center for Regenerative Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine has received three prestigious awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further its commitment to induced pluripotent stem cell research and education. [Boston University School of Medicine] Press Release

UK Scientists Excited by Surprise £2-Billion Government Windfall

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has announced a large boost in funding for research and development (R&D). The government is expecting to spend an extra £4.7 billion on R&D between now and 2020–21, and the final year’s £2-billion boost will represent a rise of around 20% in total government R&D spending. [Nature News] Editorial

NgAgo Gene-Editing Controversy Escalates in Peer-Reviewed Papers

A heated dispute over gene-editing that began online is now playing out in the scientific literature. Six months ago, Chinese researchers reported that an enzyme called NgAgo could be used to edit mammalian genes – and that it might be more accurate and more versatile than the popular CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique. [Nature News] Editorial

Immigrant and Minority Scientists Shaken by Trump Win

Scientists are reconsidering whether to work or study in the United States. Worries include job prospects, discrimination — and safety. [Nature News] Editorial

Peer-Review ‘Heroes’ Do Lion’s Share of the Work

In 2015, the number of scientists in the life sciences far exceeded the demand on them for peer review, according to Michail Kovanis, a computational physicist at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris, and his colleagues. Yet their study also suggests – based on data obtained from a rapidly-growing website of peer-review activity – that 20% of the scientists undertook between 69% and 94% of reviews last year, lending credence to some researchers’ complaints that they are overburdened. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 19^th International Conference on Clinical Application of Adult Stem Cells
February 14-15, 2017
Havana, Cuba

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

NEW Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (University of New Mexico School of Medicine)

Research Fellow – Prostate Cancer Research (Queen’s University Belfast)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College / Geisel School of Medicine)

Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (University of New Mexico)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Prostate Cancer (University College Dublin)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Biology (The University of Maryland)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Immunology (Inserm)

Assistant, Associate or Full Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Medicine (University of Georgia)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Research (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pharmacogenomics Prostate Cancer (Moffitt Cancer Center)

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