Prostate Cell News Volume 9.23 | Jun 22 2018

TOP STORY

PTEN Deficiency and AMPK Activation Promote Nutrient Scavenging and Anabolism in Prostate Cancer Cells

PTEN loss increased macropinocytosis only in the context of AMPK activation, revealing a general requirement for AMPK in macropinocytosis and a novel mechanism by which AMPK promotes survival under stress. In prostate cancer cells, albumin uptake did not require macropinocytosis, but necrotic cell debris proved a specific macropinocytic cargo. [Cancer Discov] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fractionated Radiation of Primary Prostate Basal Cells Results in Downplay of Interferon Stem Cell and Cell Cycle Checkpoint Signatures

Prostate cancer recurrence after fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) suggests the survival of cancer stem cells that share properties with normal stem cells. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved, researchers irradiated benign prostate primary basal epithelial cells isolated from patients using an FRT protocol. [Eur Urol] Abstract | Full Article

Patient Derived Organoids to Model Rare Prostate Cancer Phenotypes

The authors reported the generation and characterization of tumor organoids derived from needle biopsies of metastatic lesions from four patients. They demonstrated genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic concordance between organoids and their corresponding patient tumors. They utilized these organoids to understand the biologic role of the epigenetic modifier EZH2 in driving molecular programs associated with neuroendocrine prostate cancer progression. [Nat Commun] Full Article

MacroH2A1.2 Inhibits Prostate Cancer-Induced Osteoclastogenesis through Cooperation with HP1α and H1.2

Investigators identified lymphotoxin beta (LTβ) as a major stimulator of osteoclastogenesis and an essential macroH2A 1.2 (mH2A1.2) target for its anti-osteoclastogenic activity. mH2A1.2 directly interacted with HP1α and H1.2 and required them to inactivate LTβ gene in prostate cancer cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

Repositioning Dopamine D2 Receptor Agonist Bromocriptine to Enhance Docetaxel Chemotherapy and Treat Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Scientists demonstrated that the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) agonist bromocriptine effectively enhanced docetaxel efficacy and suppressed skeletal growth of prostate cancer (PCa) in preclinical models. DRD2 was ubiquitously expressed in PCa cell lines, and DRD2 was significantly reduced in PCa tissues with high Gleason score. Bromocriptine had weak to moderate cytotoxicity in PCa cells, but effectively induced cell cycle arrest. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Nintedanib Inhibits Growth of Human Prostate Carcinoma Cells by Modulating Both Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis Regulators

Researchers showed that Nintedanib decreased cell viability in both androgen dependent- and -independent prostate cancer cells, together with a decrease in cell motility and invasiveness. Nintedanib also reduced the expression of significant genes responsible for cell cycle progression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

An Active and Selective Molecular Mechanism Mediating the Uptake of Sex Steroids by Prostate Cancer Cells

³H-testosterone uptake by prostate cancer cells showed typical transporter-mediated uptake kinetic. Cells retained testosterone taken up from the medium. The uptake of testosterone was selective for certain steroid hormones but not others. Data also indicated that the active and selective uptake mechanism resided in cholesterol-rich membrane domains, and may involve ATP and membrane transporters. [Mol Cell Endocrinol] Abstract

Androgen Receptor Induces EPHA3 Expression by Interacting with Transcription Factor SP1

Overexpression of pEGFP-androgen receptor (AR) in 22Rv1 cells significantly increased the erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma cell surface type-A receptor 3 (EphA3) level, while AR knockdown with small interfering RNA for AR markedly decreased the expression of EPHA3. AR overexpression in 22Rvl cells raised the EphA3 promoter transcription activity of pGL3-EPHA3-Luc-789, and vice versa. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

SB225002 Inhibits Prostate Cancer Invasion and Attenuates the Expression of BSP, OPN and MMP-2

Investigators showed that the PI3K signaling pathway regulated the expression of small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family proteins, and SB22055 reduced the expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN) and MMP-2 in prostate cancer cells by inhibiting AKT/mTOR phosphorylation. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

α-Viniferin Activates Autophagic Apoptosis and Cell Death by Reducing Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells

Scientists investigated the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of α-viniferin, an oligostilbene of trimeric resveratrol, against human prostate cancer (PCa) cells and found that it markedly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP, DU145, and PC-3 cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and had a strong cytotoxicity in non-androgen-dependent PCa cells. [Med Oncol] Abstract

Concurrent Regulation of LKB1 and CaMKK2 in the Activation of AMPK in Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer by a Well-Defined Polyherbal Mixture with Anticancer Properties

Zyflamend’s activation of 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) appeared to be liver kinase B1 (LKB1) dependent, while simultaneously inhibiting calcium-calmodulin kinase kinase-2 (CaMKK2) activity. Zyflamend failed to rescue the activation of AMPK in the presence of pharmacological and molecular inhibitors of LKB1, an effect not observed in the presence of inhibitors of CaMKK2. [BMC Complement Altern Med] Full Article

Fatty Acids and Calcium Regulation in Prostate Cancer

Epidemiological research has uncovered a significant correlation of prostate cancer incidence and progression with the intake (and often co-intake) of fatty acids and calcium. The authors survey the recent literature on the molecular mechanisms associated with the critical steps in prostate cancer progression, with special attention paid to the regulation of these processes by fatty acids and calcium homeostasis. [Nutrients] Full Article

Advances in the Computational and Molecular Understanding of the Prostate Cancer Cell Nucleus

Investigators discuss recent developments to our understanding of the molecular events that drive nuclear alterations in the context of prostate cancer: the role of the nuclear matrix and lamina in size and shape changes, the role of 3-D chromatin organization and epigenetic modifications in textural changes, and the role of the tumor microenvironment in altering nuclear spatial topology. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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

Trovagene Announces the Start of Recruitment and Enrollment for Phase II Clinical Trial of PCM-075 in Combination with Zytiga^® in Patients with mCRPC

Trovagene, Inc. announced they have received Institutional Review Board approval from Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and its Phase II clinical trial of PCM-075 in combination with Zytiga^® and prednisone in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is officially activated and recruiting patients. [Trovagene] Press Release

GenomeDx Announces Cigna Coverage for Decipher Prostate Cancer Tests

GenomeDx Biosciences, announced that Cigna^® issued positive medical policy coverage for Decipher^® Prostate RP and Decipher Prostate Biopsy, effective immediately. [GenomeDx] Press Release

Abington – Jefferson Health and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Unveil Asplundh Cancer Pavilion

The 86,000-square-foot outpatient center offers a comprehensive continuum of outpatient care, clinical trials and support services in one modern facility for patients undergoing treatments who will receive the state-of-the-art care close to home. [Abington – Jefferson Health] Press Release

Two University of Rochester Professors Resign in Protest

Celeste Kidd, an associate professor in the University of Rochester’s brain and cognitive sciences department, announced her move to the University of California, Berkeley, earlier this month. Kidd and her husband, Steven Piantadosi—another professor at the university—are leaving in response to the university’s handling of the sexual harassment allegations against brain sciences professor Florian Jaeger. [The Scientist] Editorial

Hundreds of U.S. Scientists Urge More Transparency in Animal Research

Breaking with a history of reticence, nearly 600 scientists, students, and lab animal workers published a letter in USA Today that calls on U.S. research institutions to “embrace openness” about their animal research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Trump’s Plan to Reshuffle Government Strikes Familiar Notes

President Donald Trump today proposed reorganizing parts of the federal government in ways that should sound very familiar to those who follow U.S. science policy. The plan, labeled “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century,” would affect federal research agencies in ways great and small. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 2018 Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM2018)
November 12-14, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate Cancer Development & Progression Research (Brigham & Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)

Postdoctoral Positions – Ribosome Modifications (University of Copenhagen)

Research Fellow – Prostate Cancer (Sechenov University)

Postdoctoral Position – Steroid Hormone Production and Signaling (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Transcriptional/Epigenetic Regulation in Cancer Progression (UT Health San Antonio)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Scientists – Prostate Cancer Research (Institute of Oncology Research – Universita della Svizzera Italiana)

Research Associate – Computational Biology (University College London)

Academic Position – Cancer Research (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate Cancer (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Prostate Research (Baylor College of Medicine)

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