Malignant Prostate Cancer Research Articles

Hedgehog overexpression leads to the formation of prostate cancer stem cells with metastatic property irrespective of androgen receptor expression in the mouse model

BackgroundHedgehog signalling has been implicated in prostate tumorigenesis in human subjects and mouse models, but its effects on transforming normal basal/stem cells toward malignant cancer stem cells remain poorly understood.MethodsWe produced pCX-shh-IG mice that overexpress Hedgehog protein persistently in adult prostates, allowing for elucidation of the mechanism during prostate cancer initiation and progression. Various markers were used to characterize and confirm the transformation of normal prostate basal/stem cells into malignant cancer stem cells under the influence of Hedgehog overexpression.ResultsThe pCX-shh-IG mice developed prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) that led to invasive and metastatic prostate cancers within 90 days. The prostate cancer was initiated through activation of P63+ basal/stem cells along with simultaneous activation of Hedgehog signalling members, suggesting that P63+/Patch1+ and P63+/Smo+ cells may serve as cancer-initiating cells and progress into malignant prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs). In the hyperplastic lesions and tumors, the progeny of PCSCs differentiated into cells of basal-intermediate and intermediate-luminal characteristics, whereas rare ChgA+ neuroendocrine differentiation was seen. Furthermore, in the metastatic loci within lymph nodes, kidneys, and lungs, the P63+ PCSCs formed prostate-like glandular structures, characteristic of the primitive structures during early prostate development. Besides, androgen receptor (AR) expression was detected heterogeneously during tumor progression. The existence of P63+/AR-, CK14+/AR- and CD44+/AR- progeny indicates direct procurement of AR- malignant cancer trait.ConclusionsThese data support a cancer stem cell scenario in which Hedgehog signalling plays important roles in transforming normal prostate basal/stem cells into PCSCs and in the progression of PCSCs into metastatic tumor cells.

17β-Estradiol regulates oxidative stress in prostate cancer cell lines according to ERalpha/ERbeta ratio

Estrogen action is mediated by the two receptor isoforms: estrogen receptor alpha and beta. Both receptors are expressed in human prostate tissue and have different action profiles. ERalpha is positively correlated with the malignancy of prostate cancer, while ERbeta may protect against abnormal prostate cell growth. 17β-Estradiol (E2), at least in part, induces cancerous transformations by causing deleterious mutations through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim was to study the effect of E2 on oxidative stress and the expression of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and antioxidant enzymes in several prostate cancer cell lines with different ERalpha/ERbeta ratios. The cell prostate lines with a lower ERalpha/ERbeta ratio had lower oxidative stress, which could be partially explained by the increased expression of antioxidant enzymes and UCPs. Moreover, the action of E2 on the expression of antioxidant enzymes and UCPs was dual and dependent on the ERalpha/ERbeta ratio. Treatments with 0.1 nM E2 in cell lines with high ERalpha/ERbeta ratio produced a decrease in antioxidant enzymes and UCPs levels, with an increase in ROS production. These effects disappeared when the treatment was done in the presence of an ERalpha antagonist (MPP). In the cell lines with greatest levels of ERbeta and the lowest ERalpha/ERbeta ratio, E2 treatment caused the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and UCPs with a look-up decrease in ROS production. These effects were reversed when the cells were treated with E2 in the presence of an ERbeta antagonist (R,R-THC). On the whole, our results suggest a dual E2 effect; increasing or decreasing oxidative stress in part by modulation of UCPs and antioxidant enzymes according to the abundance ERbeta and ERalpha/ERbeta ratio in prostate cancer cell lines.

Matriptase Is Involved in ErbB-2-Induced Prostate Cancer Cell Invasion

Deregulation of both ErbB-2 signaling and matriptase activity has been associated with human prostate cancer (PCa) progression. In this communication, we investigated the roles of both ErbB-2 signaling in matriptase zymogen activation and matriptase in ErbB-2-induced PCa malignancy. In a human PCa cell progression model, we observed that advanced PCa C-81 LNCaP cells exhibited an aggressive phenotype with increased cell migration and invasion capacity; these cells concurrently showed both enhanced ErbB-2 phosphorylation and increased matriptase zymogen activation compared with parental C-33 LNCaP cells. Moreover, ErbB2 activation, both ligand-dependent (eg, epidermal growth factor treatment) and ligand-independent (eg, overexpression), was able to induce matriptase zymogen activation in this cell line. Inhibition of ErbB-2 activity by either the specific inhibitor, AG825, in epidermal growth factor-treated C-33 LNCaP cells or ErbB-2 knockdown in C-81 LNCaP cells, reduced matriptase activation. These observations were confirmed by similar studies using both DU145 and PC3 cells. Together, these data suggest that ErbB-2 signaling plays an important role in matriptase zymogen activation. ErbB-2-enhanced matriptase activation was suppressed by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor (ie, LY294002) but not by a MEK inhibitor (ie, PD98059). Suppression of matriptase expression by small hairpin RNA knockdown in ErbB-2-overexpressing LNCaP cells dramatically suppressed cancer cell invasion. In summary, our data indicate that ErbB-2 signaling via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway results in up-regulated matriptase zymogen activity, which contributes to PCa cell invasion.

Fighting Tumor Cell Survival: Advances in the Design and Evaluation of Pim Inhibitors

The Pim (provirus insertion site of Moloney murine leukemia virus) family of serine/threonine protein kinases possesses the fundamental characteristics critical for the biology of eukaryotes, in particular, survival and malignant transformation of cells. The members of this protein family (Pim-1 to Pim-3) are aberrantly expressed in human tumors, most frequently in prostate cancer and hematological malignancies. Therefore, Pim proteins are widely considered as attractive targets in cancer chemotherapy. Growing knowledge of mechanisms of Pim-mediated anti-apoptosis and transformation, as well as rapid progress in the design of Pim-modulating compounds dictate the need for an in-depth analysis of the chemistry of inhibitors and the modes of their interaction with these protein kinases. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular events regulated by Pim proteins. In addition, we focus on the non-patent literature (mostly since 2005) that demonstrates a diversity of chemical classes of small molecular weight Pim inhibitors. The X-ray co-crystal structures of complexes Pim:inhibitor provide evidence for SAR data important for the choice of synthetic routes, optimization of lead compounds and testing chemical libraries. We also discuss a cell-based test system useful for rapid and inexpensive pre-screening of compounds capable of preventing Pim-mediated phosphorylation.

Immunocytochemistry of CD146 is useful to discriminate between malignant pleural mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a refractory tumor with poor prognosis associated with asbestos exposure. Pleural effusion is frequently observed in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, and cytological analysis is effective to detect malignant pleural mesothelioma. However, cytological discrimination between malignant pleural mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium is often difficult. Increased expression of CD146, a cell adhesion molecule, has been reported to be closely associated with an advanced stage of malignant melanoma, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. In this study, to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CD146 for discrimination between malignant pleural mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium, we examined immunocytochemical expression of CD146 in malignant pleural mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium using two clones of CD146 antibody, OJ79 and EPR3208, on smear specimens of effusion fluids. Immunocytochemical stains were semiquantitatively scored on the basis of immunostaining intensity (0, negative; 1, weak positive; 2, moderate positive; and 3, strong positive). CD146 expression was detected in 15 of 16 malignant pleural mesothelioma with median immunostaining score of 3 by OJ79, and in 19 of 21 malignant pleural mesothelioma with median immunostaining score of 2 by EPR3208. Strong immunoreactivity of CD146 was observed at the apposing surfaces of cell–cell interactions on the plasma membrane of mesothelioma cells. In addition, one OJ79-negative case of malignant pleural mesothelioma was positive for CD146 by EPR3208 and two EPR3208-negative cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma were CD146 positive by OJ79, showing that all 23 malignant pleural mesothelioma cases were positive for CD146 by either OJ79 or EPR3208. On the other hand, CD146 expression was undetectable in all reactive mesothelium cases by OJ79 and EPR3208. The sensitivity of OJ79 and EPR3208 was 94 and 90%, respectively, and the specificity was 100% for both clones. We propose that CD146 is a sensitive and specific immunocytochemical marker enabling differential diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma from reactive mesothelium.

Is HCMV a tumor promoter?

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta-herpesvirus that causes persistent infection in humans and can cause severe disease in fetuses and immunocompromised individuals. Although HCMV is not currently causally implicated in human cancer, emerging evidence suggests that HCMV infection and expression may be specifically associated with human malignancies including malignant glioma, colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, multiple investigators have demonstrated that HCMV can dysregulate signaling pathways involved in initiation and promotion of malignancy, including tumor suppressor, mitogenic signaling, inflammatory, immune regulation, angiogenesis and invasion, and epigenetic mechanisms. This review highlights some of the recent evidence that HCMV might play a role in modulating the tumor microenvironment as well as in the initiation and promotion of tumor cells themselves.

Positive predictive values of ≥5% in primary care for cancer: systematic review

The positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer of symptoms, signs, and non-diagnostic test results of patients routinely consulting a GP (unselected primary care populations) can help to determine when malignancy should be excluded. Comparisons with other illness indicate that a value of 5% or more may be regarded as highly predictive. To identify symptoms, signs, and non-diagnostic test results in unselected primary care populations that are highly predictive of cancer. Systematic review. Primary care. Fourteen bibliographic databases were searched, using terms for primary care, cancer, and predictive values. Reference lists of relevant papers were hand-searched. Data were extracted and the quality of each paper was assessed using predefined criteria, and checked by a second reviewer. Twenty-five studies were identified. PPVs of 5% or more in specific age and sex groups were reported for: rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and iron deficiency anaemia and colorectal cancer; haematuria and urological cancer; malignant rectal examination and prostate cancer; haemoptysis and lung cancer; dysphagia and oesophageal cancer; breast lump and breast cancer; and postmenopausal bleeding and gynaecological cancer. Robust evidence was found for eight symptoms, signs, and non-diagnostic test results as strongly indicative of cancer for specific age and sex groups in unselected primary care populations. These have the potential to improve the early diagnosis of some cancers in primary care by the use of computer warning flags, improved guidelines, audit, and appraisal.

Targeting tumor metabolism with 2‐deoxyglucose in patients with castrate‐resistant prostate cancer and advanced malignancies

A profound difference between cancer and normal tissues is the preferential utilization of glycolysis by cancer cells. To translate this paradigm in the clinic, we completed a phase I study of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), and assessed 2DG uptake with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and the autophagy substrate p62 as a marker of 2DG resistance. Patients received 2DG orally on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle in cohorts of three in a dose-escalating manner. Correlative assessments included PET scans at baseline and day 2 and p62 protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a potential marker of 2DG resistance. The dose of 45 mg/kg was defined as the recommended phase II dose, secondary to dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 asymptomatic QTc prolongation at a dose of 60 mg/kg. PK evaluation of 2DG revealed linear pharmacokinetics with C(max) 45 microg/ml (277 microM), 73.7 microg/ml (449 microM), and 122 microg/ml (744 microM) in dose levels 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg, respectively. Five of eight patients assessed with FDG-PET scanning demonstrated decreased FDG uptake by day 2 of therapy, suggesting competition of 2DG with FDG. Five of six patients assessed for p62 had a decrease in p62 at 24 hr. These data support the safety of 2DG, defined 2DG PK, demonstrated the effect of 2DG on FDG-PET imaging, and demonstrated the feasibility of assessment of p62 as an autophagic resistance marker. These data support future studies of 2DG alone or in combination with approaches to abrogate autophagy.

Enhanced tumor suppression in vitro and in vivo by co-expression of survivin-specific siRNA and wild-type p53 protein

The development of malignant prostate cancer involves multiple genetic alterations. For example, alterations in both survivin and p53 are reported to have crucial roles in prostate cancer progression. However, little is known regarding the interrelationships between p53 and survivin in prostate cancer. Our data demonstrate that the expression of survivin is inversely correlated with that of wtp53 protein (r(s)=0.548) in prostate cancer and in normal prostate tissues. We have developed a therapeutic strategy, in which two antitumor factors, small interfering RNA-survivin and p53 protein, are co-expressed from the same plasmid, and have examined their effects on the growth of PC3, an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line. When p53 was expressed along with a survivin-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA), tumor cell proliferation was significantly suppressed and apoptosis occurred. In addition, this combination also abrogated the expression of downstream target molecules such as cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and c-Myc, while enhancing the expression of GRIM19. These changes in gene expression occurred distinctly in the presence of survivin-shRNA/wtp53 compared with control or single treatment groups. Intratumoral injection of the co-expressed construct inhibited the growth and survival of tumor xenografts in a nude mouse model. These studies revealed evidence of an interaction between p53 and survivin proteins plus a complex signaling network operating downstream of the wtp53-survivin pathway that actively controls tumor cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis.

Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab (BMS734016; MDX 101; MDX-010; MDX-CTLA-4; MDX-CTLA4) is an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody, which is in development by Medarex Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb as treatment for malignant melanoma, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and lung cancer. It is currently in phase III development for the melanoma and prostate cancer indications, and phase II for lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer in the US and other areas of the world. This review discusses the key development milestones and therapeutic trials on this drug to date.

Pim1 promotes human prostate cancer cell tumorigenicity and c-MYC transcriptional activity

BackgroundThe serine/threonine kinase PIM1 has been implicated as an oncogene in various human cancers including lymphomas, gastric, colorectal and prostate carcinomas. In mouse models, Pim1 is known to cooperate with c-Myc to promote tumorigenicity. However, there has been limited analysis of the tumorigenic potential of Pim1 overexpression in benign and malignant human prostate cancer cells in vivo.MethodsWe overexpressed Pim1 in three human prostate cell lines representing different disease stages including benign (RWPE1), androgen-dependent cancer (LNCaP) and androgen-independent cancer (DU145). We then analyzed in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity as well as the effect of Pim1 overexpression on c-MYC transcriptional activity by reporter assays and gene expression profiling using an inducible MYC-ER system. To validate that Pim1 induces tumorigenicity and target gene expression by modulating c-MYC transcriptional activity, we inhibited c-MYC using a small molecule inhibitor (10058-F4) or RNA interference.ResultsOverexpression of Pim1 alone was not sufficient to convert the benign RWPE1 cell to malignancy although it enhanced their proliferation rates when grown as xenografts in vivo. However, Pim1 expression enhanced the in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic potentials of the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and DU145. Reporter assays revealed increased c-MYC transcriptional activity in Pim1-expressing cells and mRNA expression profiling demonstrated that a large fraction of c-MYC target genes were also regulated by Pim1 expression. The c-MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 suppressed the tumorigenicity of Pim1-expressing prostate cancer cells. Interestingly, 10058-F4 treatment also led to a reduction of Pim1 protein but not mRNA. Knocking-down c-MYC using short hairpin RNA reversed the effects of Pim1 on Pim1/MYC target genes.ConclusionOur results suggest an in vivo role of Pim1 in promoting prostate tumorigenesis although it displayed distinct oncogenic activities depending on the disease stage of the cell line. Pim1 promotes tumorigenicity at least in part by enhancing c-MYC transcriptional activity. We also made the novel discovery that treatment of cells with the c-MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 leads to a reduction in Pim1 protein levels.

Hexane–ethanol extract ofGlycyrrhiza uralensiscontaining licoricidin inhibits the metastatic capacity of DU145 human prostate cancer cells

Licorice extracts are known to exhibit anti-carcinogenic activities. However, chronic licorice consumption can lead to serious side effects due to the presence of considerable quantities of glycyrrhizin, which causes severe hypokalaemia and hypertension. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a hexane-ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (HEGU), which lacks glycyrrhizin, on the metastatic characteristics of DU145 prostate cancer cells. HEGU inhibited basal and epidermal growth factor-induced cell migration, invasion and adhesion in a dose-dependent fashion. HEGU significantly suppressed the secretion and activation of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. The secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 was reduced, but that of TIMP-2 was increased in HEGU-treated cells. HEGU reduced the protein levels of integrin-α2, the intercellular adhesion molecule, and the vascular cell adhesion molecule. An active fraction of HEGU was separated via column chromatography, and the structure of the active component, licoricidin, was identified via 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The treatment of DU145 cells with licoricidin induced a reduction in cell migration and the secretion of MMP-9, TIMP-1, urokinase-type plasminogen activator and vascular endothelial growth factor, as well as in the expression of adhesion molecules. These results indicate that HEGU, which contains licoricidin, is a potent anti-metastatic agent, which can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive capacity of malignant prostate cancer cells. The observed reductions in the activation of proteases and the levels of adhesion molecules may constitute a component of the mechanisms by which HEGU inhibits the migration and adhesion of prostate cancer cells.

Synthesis and biological activity of N-aroyl-tetrahydro-γ-carbolines

Research on dual inhibitors of both 5-LOX and COXs gained interest due to the overexpressions of these enzymes during the malignant state of the evolution of prostate cancer. In order to take part in this research, new N-aroyl-tetrahydro-gamma-carbolines issued from the modification of Indomethacin have been synthesised. As for the NSAIDs, the compounds have been tested for their activity against COX(1), COX(2) plus against 5-LOX and against the proliferation of malignant prostate cancer. Interesting cytotoxic activities and selectivities of some tetrahydro-gamma-carboline derivatives have been obtained.

Abstract 196: UHRF1 is upregulated in prostate cancer and induces epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes

Abstract Cancer of the prostate is the most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer death in Europe and North America. At the present there is a need to understand the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this disease and discover alternative therapeutic targets. UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and RING domains 1), a nuclear RING finger protein, has been previously reported to acts as a dominant negative effectors of cell growth. UHRF1 is involved in epigenetic mechanisms by virtue of its interaction with DNMTs and HMTs. In this study, analysis of gene expression profiles of prostate tumors and normal prostate showed that UHRF1 is frequently over-expressed in tumors compared to normal tissues. UHRF1 expression was very low in immortalized prostate epithelial cells (LH) while it was higher in the Ras transformed counterpart LHSR cells. Furthermore, we observed low level of UHRF1 in the androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and 22Rv1, while higher levels were present in the androgen-independent cell lines PC3 and DU145. These data suggested that over-expression of UHRF1 is associated with malignant transformation and prostate cancer progression. To understand the role of UHRF1 we performed knockdown experiments with UHRF1 specific siRNA. Transient transfection in PC3 cells reduced UHRF1 mRNA and protein level. UHRF1 knock-down resulted in reversion of the transformed phenotype with significant inhibition of clonogenic growth in anchorage dependent and independent condition. Reversion of the transformed phenotype occurred concomitantly with restoration of the expression of several tumor suppressor genes relevant for prostate differentiation, proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition such as CDH1 and RARB2. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation showed binding of UHRF1 to these gene promoter and UHRF1 knockdown resulted in significant reduction of repressive histone marks on gene promoters. These studies suggest that deregulated UHRF1 expression results in epigenetic silencing of relevant tumor suppressor genes, contributing to prostate cancer progression. Targeting UHRF1 may result in re-expression of tumor suppressor genes and thus may be a valid strategy for therapeutic intervention. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 196.

Abstract 4057: Negative regulation of prostate specific membrane antigen by androgen is mediated by TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in VCaP prostate cancer cells

Abstract Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein over-expressed in prostate carcinoma. Elevated PSMA expression has been correlated with aggressive disease and risk of early recurrence after radical prostatectomy. This molecule is also expressed in the neovasculature of multiple nonprostate solid tumors. Consequently, this unique cell marker has been targeted for diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer (PCa) and other malignancies. Recently studies have shown that a significant fraction of PCa harbor a signature gene fusion between the androgen-responsive TMPRSS2 gene and transcription factors in the ETS family - most commonly ERG. The TMPRSS2-ERG fusion is likely the cause for over-expression of ERG in PCa. PSMA, unlike ERG, is negatively regulated by androgen. Elucidation of the relationship between TMPRSS2 gene fusions and PSMA expression could reveal mechanisms to alter PSMA expression and disease course. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether PSMA gene expression could be regulated by the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer cells. We employed VCaP cells, which harbor TMPRSS2-ERG fusion, and LNCaP cells, which lack the fusion. Our data showed that after 24h androgen R1881 treatment, ERG and TMPRSS2-ERG mRNA level were increased in VCaP cells and unchanged in LNCaP cells. PSMA and androgen receptor (AR) mRNA level were dramatically decreased in VCaP cells and only modestly decreased in LNCaP cells. Treatment with the androgen antagonist flutamide partially restored PSMA and AR expression in androgen-treated VCaP cells. Knocking down ERG by siRNA in VCaP cells enhances PSMA expression both in the presence and absence of R1881. When LNCaP cells transfected with TMPRSS2-ERG fusion transcripts, PSMA was down-regulated both in the presence or absence of R1881. Using PSMA-based luciferase reporter assays, we found TMPRSS2-ERG fusion can inhibit PSMA activity at the transcriptional level. Our data indicated that negative regulation of PSMA by androgen is mediated by TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in VCaP prostate cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4057.

Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas

Primary aldosteronism is the most common form of secondary hypertension and is present in about 8% to 10% of patients with hypertension. In primary aldosteronism, aldosterone secretion is excessive and relatively autonomous of the normal regulatory mechanisms.1,2 It was originally described by Jerome Conn from the University of Michigan3 and is thought to be due to an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) causing hypertension and hypokalemic alkalosis. Primary aldosteronism is now recognized to include a spectrum of disorders from unilateral APA to bilateral zona glomerulosa (ZG) hyperplasia, or idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. The diagnosis of all forms of primary aldosteronism is based on the finding of elevated levels of aldosterone and suppressed renin secretion.1 Differentiation between unilateral and bilateral aldosteronism is done by a combination of adrenal imaging (computed tomography or MRI) and bilateral adrenal sampling.1,2 Diagnosis of an APA is attractive because surgical therapy with unilateral adrenalectomy should cure the disease, and mechanistically, APA would suggest a single etiology of a benign neoplastic transformation of cells of the ZG producing aldosterone, regardless of the molecular mechanism. However, the histological characteristics of most adrenal tumors classified as APA are heterogeneous when one considers the surrounding adrenal cortex4 and include varying proportions of 4 different types of cells: clear cells with large vacuolated lipid–laden cytoplasm and central round nuclei similar to zona fasciculata cells; lipid-poor ZG-like cells; compact eosinophilic cells similar to those of the zona reticularis; and cells with cytological features of both ZG and zona fasciculata cells, designated hybrid cells.4 The lipid-laden fasciculata-like cells usually predominate, giving the tumors a characteristic golden yellow color, but some have more glomerulosa-like characteristics.4 However, the histological picture is far more complex, as most patients with APA also have hyperplasia of the rest of the adrenal ZG (40%) or hyperplastic …

Arginine deprivation and argininosuccinate synthetase expression in the treatment of cancer

Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid in humans, is critical for the growth of human cancers, particularly those marked by de novo chemoresistance and a poor clinical outcome. In addition to protein synthesis, arginine is involved in diverse aspects of tumour metabolism, including the synthesis of nitric oxide, polyamines, nucleotides, proline and glutamate. Tumoural downregulation of the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1), a recognised rate-limiting step in arginine synthesis, results in an intrinsic dependence on extracellular arginine due to an inability to synthesise arginine for growth. This dependence on extracellular arginine is known as arginine auxotrophy. Several tumours are arginine auxotrophic, due to variable loss of ASS1, including hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, malignant pleural mesothelioma, prostate and renal cancer. Importantly, targeting extracellular arginine for degradation in the absence of ASS1 triggers apoptosis in arginine auxotrophs. Several phase I/II clinical trials of the arginine-lowering drug, pegylated arginine deiminase, have shown encouraging evidence of clinical benefit and low toxicity in patients with ASS1-negative tumours. In part, ASS1 loss is due to epigenetic silencing of the ASS1 promoter in various human cancer cell lines and tumours, and it is this silencing that confers arginine auxotrophy. In relapsed ovarian cancer, this is associated with platinum refractoriness. In contrast, several platinum sensitive tumours, including primary ovarian, stomach and colorectal cancer, are characterised by ASS1 overexpression, which is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines. This review examines the prospects for novel approaches in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease based on ASS1 pathophysiology and its rate-limiting product, arginine.

Establishment of HRM method for quantitative determination for methylation level of DLC-1 promoter in prostate cancer and its clinical significance

Objective To establish quantitative method for detection of methylation level of DLC-1 promoter with HRM technology to analyze its association with pathological parameters in prostate cancer.Methods 89 prostate cancer tissue samples and 10 matched normal tissue samples were enrolled into this study.Prostate cancer cells were obtained by LCM.DNA was extracted and modified for methylation determination.CpGenome Universal Methylated DNA was chosen as 100% methylation sample.Then the calibrators representative of 100%,80%,50%,30%,10% and 0% methylation levels were prepared with dilution in a DNA sample of peripheral blood from healthy subjects(100% non-methylation).The DLC-1 methylation levels in prostate cancer tissue samples were detected with HRM.The associations of methylated level with age of patients,PSA value,TNM stage were investigated respectively.ResultsThe melting curves representing 100%,80%,50%,30%,10% and 0% methylation levels were aligned from right to left.The methylation levels of 10 adjacent normal samples and 35 prostate cancer samples were overlapped with 0% methylated calibrator.The methylation levels of 5 cancer samples ranged between 0% and 30%.The methylation levels of 29 cancer samples ranged between 31% and 80%.The methylation levels of 20 cancer samples ranged between 81% and 100%.HRM could be used to reliably detect the as low as 10% methylation for each assay,whereas methylation specific PCR(MSP) could be used to detect 30% methylation level.No significant association between methylation level and patients' age(X~2=3.29,P=0.19),PSA level(X~2=2.04,P=0.36) was found.However,DLC-1 methylation was higher in the prostate cancer tissues with advanced TNM stage(X~2=9.04,P=.01).Conclusions The quantitative method for DLC-1 methylation with HRM is successfully established.It is convenient with good reproducibility and high sensitivity.DLC-1 methylation could be used as the molecular marker for estimation of malignancy in prostate cancer. Key words: Prostatic neoplasms; Tumor suppressor proteins; Promoter regions(genetics); Methylation

Fyn: a novel molecular target in cancer.

Fyn is 59-kDa member of the Src family of kinases that is historically associated with T-cell and neuronal signaling in development and normal cellular physiology. Whereas Src has been heavily studied in cancer, less attention has been traditionally awarded to the other Src kinases such as Fyn. Our group has shown that Fyn is particularly upregulated in prostate cancer in contrast to the alternative members of the Src family. This suggests that it may mediate several important processes attributed to Src kinases in prostate cancer and other malignancies. These functions include not only cellular growth and proliferation but also morphogenesis and cellular motility. Together, these suggest a role for Fyn in both progression and metastasis. As several agents in clinical development affect Fyn activation, understanding the role that Fyn plays in cancer is of great importance in oncology. Cancer 2010. (c) 2010 American Cancer Society.

Involvement of Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 and PPARβ/δin Prostate Cancer Cell Growth

Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) delivers ligands from the cytosol directly to the nuclear receptor PPARβ/δ and thus facilitates the ligation and enhances the transcriptional activity of the receptor. We show here that expression levels of both FABP5 and PPARβ/δ are correlated with the tumorigenic potential of prostate cancer cell lines. We show further that FABP5 comprises a direct target gene for PPARβ/δ and thus the binding protein and its cognate receptor are engaged in a positive feedback loop. The observations demonstrate that, similarly to effects observed in mammary carcinomas, activation of the FABP5/PPARβ/δ pathway induces PPARβ/δ target genes involved in cell survival and growth and enhances cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, the data show that downregulation of either FABP5 or PPARβ/δ inhibits the growth of the highly malignant prostate cancer PC3M cells. These studies suggest that the FABP5/PPARβ/δ pathway may play a general role in facilitating tumor progression and that inhibition of the pathway may comprise a novel strategy in treatment of cancer.