Prostate Cell News Volume 8.20 | Jun 2 2017

TOP STORY

A Promoter-Proximal Transcript Targeted by Genetic Polymorphism Controls E-Cadherin Silencing in Human Cancers

Investigators uncovered a complex network comprising a promoter-associated noncoding RNA (paRNA), microRNA and epigenetic regulators that controls transcription of the tumor suppressor E-cadherin in epithelial cancers. E-cadherin silencing relies on the formation of a complex between the paRNA and microRNA-guided argonaute 1 that, together, recruited SUV39H1 and induced repressive chromatin modifications in the gene promoter. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Oncolytic Alphavirus SFV-VA7 Efficiently Eradicates Subcutaneous and Orthotopic Human Prostate Tumors in Mice

The authors analyzed infectivity of avirulent Semliki Firest virus SFV-VA7 in human prostate cancer cell lines VCaP, LNCaP and 22Rv1 and in nonmalignant prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1. Therapeutic potency of SFV-VA7 was evaluated in subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse LNCaP xenograft models. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Human Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Enhance Glutathione Levels and Antagonize Drug-Induced Prostate Cancer Cell Death

Researchers examined the effect of primary human cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on p53 induction and cell viability in prostate cancer cells on treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. Co-culture with prostate CAFs or CAF-conditioned medium attenuated DNA damage, and the p53 response to chemotherapeutic drugs, and enhanced prostate cancer cell survival. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Immunosuppressive Cytokine Interleukin-4 Increases the Clonogenic Potential of Prostate Stem-Like Cells by Activation of STAT6 Signaling

Scientists investigated the influence of interleukin-4 on primary epithelial cells from prostate cancer patients. They found an increase in the clonogenic potential of these cells when cultured in the presence of interleukin-4. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Downregulation of Androgen Receptors by NaAsO₂ via Inhibition of AKT-NF-κB and HSP90 in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

Investigators used hormone-sensitive LNCaP cells, hormone-insensitive 22Rv1 cells, and castration-resistant prostate cancer patient-derived primary cells. They analyzed the anti-cancer effect of NaAsO₂ using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and CellTiter Glo^® luminescent assay. [Prostate] Abstract

Melatonin Inhibits Androgen Receptor Splice Variant-7 (AR-V7)-Induced Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) Activation and NF-κB Activator-Induced AR-V7 Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells: Potential Implications for the Use of Melatonin in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) Therapy

Researchers showed that in LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells transiently overexpressing AR-V7, NF-κB was activated and could result in up-regulated interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression, indicating a positive interaction between AR-V7 expression and activated NF-κB/IL-6 signaling in castration-resistant prostate cancer pathogenesis. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

An Androgen Response Element Driven Reporter Assay for the Detection of Androgen Receptor Activity in Prostate Cells

To investigate mechanisms of androgen receptor (AR) and AR target gene activation in different subpopulations of prostate cancer cells, scientists developed a toolkit of AR expressor and androgen response element reporter vectors. Cell lines transduced with the vectors expressed the reporters in an androgen-dependent way according to fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and multi-well fluorescent and luminescence assays. [PLoS One] Full Article

Inhibition of Chronic Prostate Inflammation by Hyaluronic Acid through an Immortalized Human Prostate Stromal Cell Line Model

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urologic disease among elderly men. A well-established in vitro cell model is required to determine the therapeutic mechanism of BPH inflammation. The authors attempted to establish an immortalized human prostate stromal cell line by transfecting with HPV-16 E6/E7, and designate it as ihPSC. [PLoS One] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Lactate Dehydrogenase Predicts Combined Progression-Free Survival after Sequential Therapy with Abiraterone and Enzalutamide for Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Researchers retrospectively analyzed a total of 69 patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with sequential therapy using enzalutamide followed by abiraterone or vice versa. The primary outcome measure was the comparative combined progression-free survival (PFS) comprising symptomatic and/or radiographic PFS. Patients were also compared for total prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-PFS, overall survival, and PSA response. [Prostate] Abstract

Myeloid-Derived Cells in Prostate Cancer Progression: Phenotype and Prospective Therapies

The authors describe myeloid-derived cells that interact with tumor cells and what is known about their immune suppressive function. They discuss new evidence for tumor cell–mediated myeloid infiltration via the PI3K/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway and an alternative mechanism for immune evasion that may be regulated by an endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Finally, they discuss several interventions that target myeloid-derived cells to treat prostate cancer. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

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

OBI Pharma Announces Acquisition of TH-3424 from Threshold Pharmaceuticals

OBI Pharma, Inc. announced an agreement with Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to acquire TH-3424, a first-in-class novel small-molecule prodrug that selectively targets cancers overexpressing the enzyme aldo-keto reductase 1c3 (AKR1C3). AKR1C3 overexpression has been documented in a number of treatment-resistant and difficult to treat cancers. [OBI Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

Synthetic Genomics Launches cGMP Suite for Pharmaceutical Quality Manufacturing of Synthetic DNA for Advaxis’ Clinical Trials

Synthetic Genomics, Inc. and Advaxis, Inc. announced that they have completed development and deployment of the first current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) synthetic biology facility for the production of synthetic DNA constructs. The cGMP suite has been designed to meet cGMP Phase I clinical quality and manufacturing requirements mandated by the FDA. The suite will be used to develop synthetic DNA constructs for Advaxis’ upcoming Phase I clinical trial of ADXS-NEO, a personalized, neoantigen-targeted cancer immunotherapy. [Synthetic Genomics] Press Release

Trials of Embryonic Stem Cells to Launch in China

The first clinical trial in China using human embryonic stem (ES) cells, and the first one worldwide aimed at treating Parkinson’s disease using ES cells from fertilized embryos, will begin in the next few months. In a second trial starting around the same time, a different team in Zhengzhou will use ES cells to target vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration. [Nature News] Editorial

Web of Science Owner Buys up Booming Peer-Review Platform

The owner of the vast science-citation database Web of Science — Clarivate Analytics — is buying up a firm that has gathered hundreds of thousands of peer-review records, in a deal that could lead to new ways of organizing scientific peer review and preventing peer-review fraud. [Nature News] Editorial

Pay-to-View Blacklist of Predatory Journals Set to Launch

Five months after a widely read blog listing possible ‘predatory’ scholarly journals and publishers was shut down, another index of untrustworthy titles is appearing — although this version will be available only to paying subscribers. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
October 26-30, 2017
Philadelphia, United States

NEW AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets & Cancer Therapeutics
November 5-9, 2017
Boston, United States

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

NEW Assistant Member – Prostate Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Drug Discovery (The Vancouver Prostate Centre)

Research Associate – Prostate Cancer (Meharry Medical College)

Assistant Professor – Prostate Cancer, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, Advanced Tissue Imaging (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Pathology Clinical Research Fellow – Treatment of Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Androgen Action in Prostate Cancer (Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic)

Postdoctoral Senior Fellow – Microbiology, Genetics, and Translational Prostate Cancer Research (University of Washington)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammalian Stem Cell Biology (NYU School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Prostate Cancer Research (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Gene Regulation in Cancer Progression (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

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