Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
 685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Previous studies from this laboratory have described that LNCaP prostate tumor cells contain an androgen receptor (AR) with a point mutation in the steroid-binding domain (codon 868, Thr to Ala). This defect leads to a change in specificity of the AR. Estrogens, progestagens, and some anti-androgens (e.g., cyproterone acetate, hydroxyflutamide, nilutamide) stimulate LNCaP cell growth rate through the AR. The present studies indicate that not all anti-androgens showed agonistic effects with the mutated receptor. The growth rate of LNCaP cells did not increase with the anti-androgen ICI 176334, nor could this compound increase transcription activation of the reporter gene construct via the mutant receptor in a cotransfection system [HeLa cell cotransfection system with an androgen-regulated reporter gene construct (pG29G-tk-CAT) and the mutant receptor as trans-vector]. Interaction of the AR of LNCaP cells with heat-shock proteins was studied by isolation of the receptor with a specific monoclonal antibody and characterization of associated proteins. Hsp90, hsp70, and hsp56 were found to coprecipitate with the AR. Incubation of the cells at 37 degrees C with androgen (R1881, 10 nM) or the anti-androgen hydroxyflutamide, prior to receptor isolation, resulted in dissociation of the AR-heat-shock protein complex. This dissociation is paralleled by the transformation to a tight nuclear-binding form of the AR. In contrast, ICI 176334 could not induce a release of heat-shock proteins and did not increase nuclear binding, but inhibited the transformation process induced by R1881.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Anti-androgens and the mutated androgen receptor of LNCaP cells: differential effects on binding affinity, heat-shock protein interaction, and transcription activation. 154 May 95

A clonal mouse prostate carcinoma was established by the introduction of the ras and myc oncogenes via the recombinant retrovirus Zipras/myc 9 using a mouse prostate reconstitution model system. A single-cell suspension derived from an early passage ras+myc-induced carcinoma was inoculated into the flanks of intact or castrated adult male C57BL/6 mice, and tumors were harvested 3 wk postinoculation for northern and Southern blotting. Tumor volume analysis showed that this carcinoma was not dependent on testicular androgens for growth. Southern blot analysis of virus-cell DNA junction fragments revealed that tumor cell populations recovered from both intact and castrated mice were progeny of the same virus-infected cell. Northern blotting showed that mRNA levels for the four growth-related genes transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-beta 3), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and c-myc were significantly elevated in clonal mouse prostate carcinomas grown in castrated hosts. In contrast, androgen receptor mRNA levels were significantly reduced under the same conditions. The response of TGF-beta 1, tPA, and c-myc mRNA levels in the carcinomas grown in castrated hosts was similar to that shown previously in normal rat ventral prostate. However, unlike normal rat ventral prostate after castration, increased numbers of apoptotic cells were not seen in the castrated group relative to the intact group at the time of analysis, indicating that the altered gene expression was not associated with cell death. In addition, testosterone-repressed prostate mRNA number 2 levels, shown previously to be elevated after castration in normal rat ventral prostate, were not increased in the androgen-deprived clonal mouse prostate carcinomas. Therefore, this early passage clonal ras+myc-induced prostate carcinoma demonstrates unique patterns of expression for a set of growth-related genes in an androgen-deprived environment.
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PMID:Alterations in mRNA levels for growth-related genes after transplantation into castrated hosts in oncogene-induced clonal mouse prostate carcinoma. 154 41

Genetic alterations of multiple loci that serve as markers for the induction and progression of disease have been identified in several adenocarcinomas, but not in adenocarcinoma of the prostate. To determine if similar genetic alterations occur in prostate carcinoma and could serve as markers for the extent of clinical disease, we have examined 23 predominantly moderately-differentiated, localized prostate carcinomas and one prostatic dysplasia for changes in the structure and copy number of ten selected genes. These genes include 1) those important to androgen metabolism in the prostate, the androgen receptor and steroid 5 alpha reductase genes; 2) those that map to the 10q (PLAU) and 7q (MET) chromosomal regions found deleted in some prostate carcinomas, and 3) proto-oncogenes (ERBB2, INT2, and MYC) and tumor suppressor gene loci (RB1, TP53 and D17S5) found altered in adenocarcinomas of the breast, colon and lung. Gene alterations were detected in one specimen, a lymph node metastasis from a poorly differentiated tumor. This specimen exhibited loss of heterozygosity for two loci putatively active in tumor suppression, TP53 and D17S5, on the short arm of chromosome 17. This study indicates that gross genetic alterations were not evident and could not be used as markers of tumor development in well- or moderately-differentiated, localized lesions, but that loss of the 17p region may be a useful marker for advanced carcinomas in the prostate.
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PMID:Loss of the 17p chromosomal region in a metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. 155 12

Discrete functions have been attributed to precise regions of the human androgen receptor (hAR) by expression of deletion mutants in COS and HeLa cells. A large C-terminal domain constitutes the hormone-binding region and a central basis, cysteine-rich domain is responsible for DNA binding. In addition, separate domains responsible for transactivation and nuclear translocation have been identified. In LNCaP cells (a prostate tumor cell line) the hAR is a heterogeneous protein which is synthesized as a single 110 kDa protein, but becomes rapidly phosphorylated to a 112 kDa protein. Metabolic labeling experiments using radioactive orthophosphate also indicated that the hAR is a phosphoprotein. Structural analysis of the AR gene in LNCaP cells and in 46, XY-individuals displaying androgen insensitivity (AIS) has revealed several different point mutations. In LNCaP cells the mutation affects both binding specificity and transactivation by different steroids. In a person with complete AIS a point mutation was identified in the splice donor site of intron 4, which prevents normal splicing and activates a cryptic splice donor site in exon 4. The consequence is a functionally inactive AR protein due to an in-frame deletion in the steroid-binding domain. In two unrelated individuals with complete AIS, two different single nucleotide alterations in codon 686 (Asp) were found. Both mutations resulted in functionally inactive ARs due to rapidly dissociating hormone-AR complexes. It is concluded that the hAR is a heterogeneous phosphoprotein in which functional errors have a dramatic impact on phenotype and fertility of 46, XY-individuals.
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PMID:The human androgen receptor: structure/function relationship in normal and pathological situations. 156 11

The human prostate tumor cell line LNCaP contains an abnormal androgen receptor system with broad steroid binding specificity. Progestagens, estradiol and several antiandrogens compete with androgens for binding to the androgen receptor in the cells to a higher extent than in other androgen sensitive systems. Optimal growth of LNCaP cells is observed after addition of the synthetic androgen R1881 (0.1 nM). In addition, estrogens, progestagens and several antiandrogens do not inhibit androgen responsive growth, but have striking growth stimulatory effects and increase EGF receptor level and acid phosphatase secretion. We have found that the androgen receptor in the LNCaP cells contains a single point mutation changing the sense of codon 868 (Thr to Ala) in the ligand binding domain. Expression vectors containing the normal or mutated androgen receptor sequence were transfected into COS or HeLa cells. Androgens, progestagens, estrogens and several antiandrogens bind the mutated androgen receptor protein and activate the expression of an androgen-regulated reporter gene (GRE-tk-CAT), indicating that the mutation directly affects both binding specificity and the induction of gene expression. Interestingly, the antiandrogen casodex showed antiandrogenic properties in growth studies of LNCaP cells and did not induce reporter gene activity in Hela cells transfected with the mutant receptor. The mutated androgen receptor of LNCaP cells is therefore a useful tool in the elucidation of different levels of action of steroids and antisteroids.
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PMID:The androgen receptor in LNCaP cells contains a mutation in the ligand binding domain which affects steroid binding characteristics and response to antiandrogens. 156 39

Steroid hormone receptors have been evaluated as independent prognostic factors as well as predictive factors for endocrine manipulation in the clinical management of breast cancer. The contribution of each receptor or combinations of different receptors remains controversial. In cytosols from 224 patients with operable breast cancer (stages I & II), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and androgen receptor (AR) content have been measured. An improved AR-assay has been used in order to circumvent some of the problems inherent in other methods. In this study, 91.1% of the patients were classified as AR 'positive' (i.e. greater than or equal to 10 pmol/g). The steroid hormone receptors were significantly correlated (P less than 0.001). Taking the median value of AR as cut-off (50.5 pmol/g), a significantly higher incidence (P = 0.004) of node negative patients was found in the group with a lower AR content. In a multivariate analysis the AR category (median value used as cut-off) was shown to be an independent predictor of the likelihood of axillary metastases (P = 0.001). AR category, however, did not reveal any significant prognostic information concerning relapse free survival. A subpopulation of node positive patients with ER positive tumors, have been included in a randomized trial on the role of tamoxifen as an adjuvant treatment compared with no endocrine treatment. In a multivariate analysis, PgR status was shown to be a single independent prognostic factor (P = 0.016) for relapse free survival in patients with a lower AR content (less than median value). The improved AR assay used in the present study may provide a basis for more correct estimation of the AR content in an individual tumor. The present study suggests that AR analysis and the use of a well-chosen cut-off level may add information about tumor biology to increase our understanding of breast cancer biology and treatment.
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PMID:Androgen receptors in operable breast cancer: relation to other steroid hormone receptors, correlations to prognostic factors and predictive value for effect of adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. 158 3

We screened human prostate cancer tissues for the presence of somatic mutations in the hormone binding domain of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Exons E-H were amplified from genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), which separates DNA fragments that differ by only a single base. We detected a mutation in exon E of the hormone binding domain in 1 of 26 specimens of untreated organ-confined stage B prostate cancer. The mutation was not detectable in peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA. Lymphocyte DNA (wild-type AR) migrated in DGGE as a single band. The tumor DNA migrated in DGGE as four bands, consistent with the presence of cells with mutant AR plus cells with wild-type AR and indicating that the tumor contained a somatic mutation. To our knowledge, a somatic AR gene mutation has not been reported previously. Sequencing revealed a G----A substitution in codon 730, changing valine to methionine. Codon 730 is in a region highly conserved among all steroid receptors. The abundance of the mutated fragment (about 50% of the DNA in the specimen) indicates its presence in cells with a growth advantage. A somatic mutation could be detected by DGGE if it represented at least 10% of the sample. Failure to detect mutations in other specimens analyzed may be due to this limit of sensitivity, the presence of mutations in other parts of the AR, or a low frequency of mutations in early stage disease.
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PMID:Androgen receptor gene mutations in human prostate cancer. 163 Nov 25

The expression of androgen receptor messenger RNA in hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatoma cell lines was studied using Northern-blot analysis and the complementary DNA-polymerase chain reaction method. Androgen receptor messenger RNAs were detected (although in low levels) in both hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and noncancerous tissues of the liver in all eight cases we studied, except for the tumor sample of one case. None of the hepatoma cell lines studied, however, expressed detectable levels of androgen receptor messenger RNA except for the SK-HEP-1 hepatoma cell line.
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PMID:Expression of androgen receptor mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatoma cell lines. 164 43

Sex hormones have been shown to influence the development and course of several liver diseases. The worldwide predominance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in males has led to the suggestion that this disease might be hormone-responsive. Therefore, the hepatic estrogen (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) status of liver specimens from such patients was investigated. Samples were obtained from three female and six males patients undergoing liver resection; in each case, a small sample of both the tumor and adjacent normal tissue was collected. All patients had primary hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis. In most cases, the tumor and the normal specimen had an equivalent content of cytosolic ER; however, three of the tumor samples (one female and two male) displayed considerably elevated cytosolic ER levels as compared to that of the normal tissue. In every sample, the tumor contained less nuclear ER than did the normal liver. When AR was measured, tumors of three patients (one female and two male) demonstrated a twofold elevation in cytosolic AR as compared to adjacent normal tissue. In the two male patients, an approximately twofold greater nuclear AR was found. Two other samples from male patients showed a modest elevation of cytosolic AR in the tumors. The patients whose tumors showed elevations in ER were not the same patients as those in whom the AR was elevated. Thus, these studies indicate that certain, but not all, specimens of HCC demonstrate either elevated ER or AR and suggest that a determination of receptor content might be useful prior to initiation of certain antihormone therapies.
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PMID:Quantitation of estrogen and androgen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent normal human liver. 165 43

A longstanding goal has been to determine whether androgen receptor (AR) levels could be used to predict the clinical response of metastatic prostate cancer to androgen withdrawal therapy. A major limitation of previous studies was the use of homogenized tissue, which yields an average AR content for all cells. By AR immunohistochemical study using an antibody specific for AR the authors assessed nuclear AR content specifically in the malignant epithelial cells of prostate needle biopsy specimens of 17 patients with Stage D prostate cancer. The authors found that prostate cancer contains AR-positive and AR-negative malignant cells before androgen withdrawal therapy, but the percentage of AR-positive cells did not predict the time to tumor progression after therapy. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of AR-positive malignant cells and the time to tumor progression. When patients were divided into two groups based on the median time to progression, the percentage of AR-positive nuclei was not significantly different in poor responders versus good responders. When patients were divided into two groups based on the median percentage of receptor-positive nuclei, Kaplan-Meier estimates of the progression-free interval revealed no significant difference between the group of patients with AR-poor tumors and patients with AR-rich tumors. Potential explanations for these results are discussed. The authors conclude that the percentage of AR-positive nuclei is not a sufficient criterion to predict tumor behavior.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical study of androgen receptors in metastatic prostate cancer. Comparison of receptor content and response to hormonal therapy. 171 May 37


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