Prostate Cell News Volume 8.44 | Nov 17 2017

TOP STORY

Cyclin D–CDK4 Kinase Destabilizes PD-L1 via Cul3^SPOP to Control Cancer Immune Surveillance

Scientists report that PD-L1 protein abundance is regulated by cyclin D-CDK4 and the Cullin 3^SPOP E3 ligase via proteasome-mediated degradation. Loss-of-function mutations in SPOP compromised ubiquitination-mediated PD-L1 degradation, leading to increased PD-L1 levels and reduced numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in mouse tumors and in primary human prostate cancer specimens. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

PTEN Is a Protein Phosphatase That Targets Active PTK6 and Inhibits PTK6 Oncogenic Signaling in Prostate Cancer

Investigators showed that the tyrosine kinase PTK6 is a PTEN substrate. Phosphorylation of PTK6 tyrosine 342 (PY342) promoted activation, while phosphorylation of tyrosine 447 (PY447) regulated auto-inhibition. Introduction of PTEN into a PTEN null prostate cancer cell line lead to dephosphorylation of PY342 but not PY447 and PTK6 inhibition. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Cleavage of Vitamin B9 Stimulates Oncogenic Signaling through Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

The authors demonstrated that in prostate cancer, prostate-specific membrane antigen initiates signaling upstream of PI3K through G protein–coupled receptors, specifically via the metabotropic glutamate receptor. [J Exp Med] Abstract

TOP2A and EZH2 Provide Early Detection of an Aggressive Prostate Cancer Subgroup

Scientists interrogated a total of seven primary prostate cancer cohorts, two metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer datasets, and one prospective cohort to assess the impact of TOP2A and EZH2 expression on prostate cancer cellular program and patient outcomes. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Targeting the MYCN-PARP-DNA Damage Response Pathway in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer

The authors investigated MYCN-regulated molecular pathways in castration-resistant prostate cancer classified by morphological criteria as adenocarcinoma or neuroendocrine to extend the molecular phenotype, establish driver pathways, and identify novel approaches to combination therapy for neuroendocrine prostate cancer. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

PTEN Loss and Activation of K-RAS and β-Catenin Cooperate to Accelerate Prostate Tumorigenesis

Aberrant phosphoinositide 3-kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase and WNT signaling are emerging as key events in the multistep nature of prostate tumorigenesis and progression. Researchers report a compound prostate cancer murine model in which these signaling pathways cooperate to produce a more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype. [J Pathol] Abstract

Phospholipase D Inhibitors Reduce Human Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation and Colony Formation

Phospholipase D1 protein expression in cultured PNT2C2, PNT1A, P4E6, LNCaP, PC3, PC3M, VCaP, 22RV1 cell lines and patient-derived prostate cancer cells was analyzed by western blotting. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

The Interaction Between Androgen Receptor and Semenogelin I: A Synthetic LxxLL Peptide Antagonist Inhibits the Growth of Prostate Cancer Cells

Researchers investigated the role of the LxxLL motif within semenogelin I in the interactions with androgen receptor and cell growth in prostate cancer lines in vitro. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Involvement of Aberrantly Activated HOTAIR/EZH2/miR-193a Feedback Loop in Progression of Prostate Cancer

Investigators studied the function and regulatory mechanism of HOTAIR/EZH2/miR-193a feedback loop in prostate cancer progression. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

A Standardized Herbal Extract Mitigates Tumor Inflammation and Augments Chemotherapy Effect of Docetaxel in Prostate Cancer

The authors suggest that a standardized preparation of Wedelia chinensis extract improved prostate cancer therapy through immunomodulation and has potential application as an adjuvant agent for castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Serotonin Regulates Prostate Growth through Androgen Receptor Modulation

Scientists showed that serotonin (5-HT) is a strong negative regulator of prostate growth. In vitro, 5-HT inhibited rat prostate branching through down-regulation of androgen receptor. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Aberrant Activation of a Gastrointestinal Transcriptional Circuit in Prostate Cancer Mediates Castration Resistance

The authors describe an aberrant gastrointestinal-lineage transcriptome expressed in ∼5% of primary prostate cancer that is characterized by abbreviated response to androgen-deprivation therapy and in ∼30% of castration-resistant prostate cancer. [Cancer Cell] Abstract

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

The Wistar Institute Awarded More Than $16.5M in Grants to Fund Cancer & Infectious Disease Research and Training

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have secured more than $16.5 million in funding throughout the summer and early fall of 2017. [The Wistar Institute] Press Release

Two Mount Sinai Institutes to Join $215 Million Public-Private Partnership to Increase Patients’ Immunotherapy Success

The Tisch Cancer Institute and the Precision Immunology Institute at Mount Sinai Health System are part of a $215 million public-private Cancer Moonshot research collaboration launched by the National Institutes of Health and eleven leading pharmaceutical companies. [Mount Sinai Hospital] Press Release

Cincinnati Children’s Launches Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine

Seven years ago Cincinnati Children’s scientists first used pluripotent stem cells to mimic natural human development and grow working human intestine in a lab. Today medical center doctors can bioengineer the gastrointestinal tissues of sick children to find clues about a child’s disease and how to treat it. [Cincinnati Children’s Hospital] Press Release

FDA Announces Comprehensive Regenerative Medicine Policy Framework

The FDA announced a comprehensive policy framework for the development and oversight of regenerative medicine products, including novel cellular therapies. The framework – outlined in a suite of four guidance documents – builds upon the FDA’s existing risk-based regulatory approach to more clearly describe what products are regulated as drugs, devices, and/or biological products. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

African Scientists Get Their Own Open-Access Publishing Platform

Africa’s academy of science has announced that it will launch an open-access publishing platform — the first of its kind aimed exclusively at scientists on the continent. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW SYStem – Symposium for the Next Generation of Stem Cell Researchers
February 22-24, 2018
Vienna, Austria

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

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

NEW Assistant Professor – Prostate Cancer (University of Illinois)

NEW PhD Student Position – Prostate Cancer (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Prostate Cancer (University of Minnesota)

Faculty Position – Cancer Research (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Position – Drug Discovery for Advanced Prostate Cancer (Lerner Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (The Henry Ford Health System)

Postdoctoral Position – Prostate Cancer (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Prostate Related Diseases (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Drug Discovery (Vancouver Prostate Centre)

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in Prostate Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.