Prostate Cell News Volume 9.14 | Apr 20 2018

TOP STORY

Landmark Study Links Tumor Evolution to Prostate Cancer Severity

Researchers showed that the aggressiveness of an individual prostate cancer can be accurately assessed by looking at how that tumor has evolved. This information can be used to determine what type and how much treatment should be given to each patient, or if any is needed at all. [Press release from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Sequencing of Prostate Cancers Identifies New Cancer Genes, Routes of Progression and Drug Targets

Through the temporal dissection of aberrations, scientists identified driver mutations specifically associated with steps in the progression of prostate cancer, establishing, for example, loss of CHD1 and BRCA2 as early events in cancer development of ETS fusion-negative cancers. [Nat Genet] Abstract

Tunable Cytotoxic Aptamer-Drug Conjugates for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Cell selection for aptamers with prostate cancer specificity yielded the E3 aptamer, which internalizes into prostate cancer cells without targeting normal prostate cells. Chemical conjugation of E3 to the drugs monomethyl auristatin E and monomethyl auristatin F yielded a potent cytotoxic agent that efficiently kills prostate cancer cells in vitro but does not affect normal prostate epithelial cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Targeting Galectin-1 Impairs Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Progression and Invasion

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) was highly expressed in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells, but not in androgen-sensitive cells. Gal-1 knockdown significantly inhibited CRPC cells’ growth, anchorage independent growth, migration and invasion through the suppression of AR and Akt signaling. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention by Sulforaphane in a Preclinical Mouse Model Is Associated with Inhibition of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Researchers used cellular models of prostate cancer and archived plasma/adenocarcinoma tissues and sections from the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate study to demonstrate inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by sulforaphane treatment in vitro and in vivo. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Phenylbutyl Isoselenocyanate Induces Reactive Oxygen Species to Inhibit Androgen Receptor and to Initiate p53‐Mediated Apoptosis in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

The authors treated human LNCaP prostate cancer cells with phenylbutyl isoselenocyanate (ISC‐4) and examined their apoptosis responses, and interrogated the signaling mechanisms through pharmacological and siRNA knockdown approaches. They showed that ISC‐4 was more potent at inducing apoptosis than its sulfur analog phenylbutyl isothiocyanate without suppressing protein kinase AKT Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

STEAP2 Knockdown Reduces the Invasive Potential of Prostate Cancer Cells

Scientists established the functional role of six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate-2 (STEAP2) in prostate tumorigenesis and evaluated if its knockdown resulted in reduced invasive potential of prostate cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Oleic Acid Promotes Prostate Cancer Malignant Phenotype via the G Protein‐Coupled Receptor FFA1/GPR40

The authors report that oleic acid, one of the most prevalent free fatty acid (FFA) in human plasma, increases proliferation of highly malignant PC3 and DU‐145 prostate cancer cells. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Micro-RNA-186-5p Inhibition Attenuates Proliferation, Anchorage Independent Growth and Invasion in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells

MiR-186-5p was upregulated in serum from prostate cancer (PCa) patients and metastatic PCa cell lines compared to serum from disease-free individuals or a normal prostate epithelial cell line, respectively. Inhibition of miR-186-5p reduced cell proliferation, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 and/or MDA-PCa-2b PCa cells. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

β-Catenin Nuclear Translocation Induced by HIF-1α Overexpression Leads to the Radioresistance of Prostate Cancer

Investigators revealed that in both the LNCaP and C4-2B cells, transfection with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) overexpression plasmid led to an enhanced β-catenin nuclear translocation, while β-catenin silencing inhibited β-catenin nuclear translocation. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Nanoparticle‐Based Targeted Cancer Strategies for Non‐Invasive Prostate Cancer Intervention

Nanoparticles provide an effective platform for targeted delivery of miRNA inhibitors or mimics specifically to prostate tumor cells to inhibit cancer progression. Several prostate–specific transmembrane proteins expressed at elevated levels in prostate tumors are under investigation for targeting therapeutic agents to prostate cancer cells. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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

Too Much of a Good Thing: Effect of Prostate Cancer Gene Can Go Either Way, Roswell Park Researchers Find

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have found that the effect of a key gene driving an aggressive, recurrent and often incurable form of prostate cancer is dose-dependent, opening new avenues for therapies that overcome resistance to treatment of advanced disease. [Press release from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center discussing research presented at at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2018, Chicago] Press Release

OBI Pharma Announces FDA Clearance of OBI-3424 IND Application for a Phase I/II Study Targeting AKR1C3 Solid Tumors

OBI Pharma, Inc. announced that the FDA has cleared an investigational new drug (IND) application for a Phase I/II study of OBI-3424, a first-in-class DNA alkylating agent that targets cancers that overexpress the aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) enzyme. OBI plans to enroll patients with local solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma and castrate-resistant prostate cancer. [OBI Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

Bioatla Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for CAB-ROR2-ADC Therapeutic

BioAtla, LLC announced the FDA has cleared BioAtla’s Investigational New Drug application for BA3021, a first-in-class conditionally active ROR2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (CAB-ROR2-ADC), in patients with solid tumors. [BioAtla, LLC (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Global Cancer Scheme Lets People Share Data across the World

People with cancer will soon be able to donate their medical information to a global database aimed at discovering new treatments. When the database becomes fully functional later this year, any individual with cancer will have access to a document – the “Universal Patient Consent Form” – that will allow them to make their medical and genetic data freely accessible to all cancer researchers. [New Scientist Ltd.] Editorial

Women Less Successful When Applying for Patents

Women inventors have less success than men at each step of the patent application process in the U.S., according to a study published this month in Nature Biotechnology. [The Scientist] Editorial

Dutch Universities, Journal Publishers Agree on Open-Access Deals

Despite some difficult negotiations, academic institutions in the Netherlands have been securing subscriptions that combine publishing and reading into one fee. [The Scientist] Editorial

African Scientists Call for More Control of Their Continent’s Genomic Data

Africa-based researchers issued guidelines for the ethical handling of samples for genomic studies. The voluntary rules are an effort to combat ‘helicopter’ research, in which foreign scientists take samples and data from communities and then return to their home institutions. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 6^th Cambridge International Stem Cell Symposium
September 19-21, 2018
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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

NEW Research Fellowship – Prostate Cancer Pathology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate Cancer Epigenomics or Uterine Fibroids (Northwestern University)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer Biology (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Prostate Cancer (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Prostate Oncobiology (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Molecular and Translational Cancer Biology (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Position – Prostate Cancer (Northwestern University)

Research Scientist – Prostate Cancer (Institute of Oncology Research)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer Biology (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Prostate Research (Baylor College of Medicine)

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