Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0376358 (prostate cancer)
 59,338 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We introduced the gene for wild-type human p53 or p21, a critical downstream mediator of p53-induced growth suppression, into a p53-deficient mouse prostate cancer cell line using a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad5CMV-p53 or Ad5CMV-p21). Elevated levels of endogenous mouse p21 mRNA provided evidence for the functional activity of virally transduced p53. Functional activity of viral-transduced p21 was demonstrated through immunoprecipitation of cellular protein extracts, which showed that the viral-transduced p21 associates with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and was sufficient to down-regulate the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase by approximately 65%. In vitro growth assays revealed significantly higher growth suppression after Ad5CMV-p21 infection compared to Ad5CMV-p53. In vivo studies in syngeneic male mice with established s.c. prostate tumors demonstrated that the rate of growth and final tumor volume were reduced to a much greater extent in mice that received intratumor injection of Ad5CMV-p21 compared to Ad5CMV-p53. In addition, the survival of host animals bearing tumors that were infected with Ad5CMV-p21, but not Ad5CMV-p53, was significantly extended. These data suggest that Ad5CMV-p21 may be effective as a therapeutic agent for prostate cancer.
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PMID:In vivo gene therapy with p53 or p21 adenovirus for prostate cancer. 758 63

The androgen receptor (AR), a transcription factor that mediates the action of androgens in target tissues, is expressed in nearly all prostate cancers. Carcinoma of the prostate is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm in men in industrialized countries. Palliative treatment for non-organ-confined prostate cancer aims to down-regulate the concentration of circulating androgen or to block the transcription activation function of the AR. AR function during endocrine therapy was studied in tumor cells LNCaP subjected to long-term steroid depletion; newly generated sublines could be stimulated by lower concentrations of androgen than parental cells and showed up-regulation of AR expression and activity as well as resistance to apoptosis. Androgenic hormones regulate the expression of key cell cycle regulators, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and 4, and that of the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Inhibition of AR expression could be achieved by potential chemopreventive agents flufenamic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, polyunsaturated fatty acids and interleukin-1beta, and by the application of AR antisense oligonucleotides. In the clinical situation, AR gene amplification and point mutations were reported in patients with metastatic disease. These mutations generate receptors which could be activated by other steroid hormones and non-steroidal antiandrogens. In the absence of androgen, the AR could be activated by various growth-promoting (growth factors, epidermal growth factor receptor-related oncogene HER-2/neu) and pleiotropic (protein kinase A activators, interleukin-6) compounds as well as by inducers of differentiation (phenylbutyrate). AR function is modulated by a number of coactivators and corepressors. The three coactivators, TIF-2, SRC-1 and RAC3, are up-regulated in relapsed prostate cancer. New experimental therapies for prostate cancer are aimed to down-regulate AR expression and to overcome difficulties which occur because of the acquisition of agonistic properties of commonly used antiandrogens.
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PMID:Androgen receptors in prostate cancer. 1223 44

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that activates the signaling pathways of Janus kinases-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) and/or mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in various tumors. Thus, it modulates cell growth and apoptosis. IL-6 levels are elevated in tissues and sera from prostate cancer patients and IL-6 receptor expression has been detected in prostate cancer cell lines and clinical specimens. Continuous exposure of prostate cancer cells to IL-6 might alter their responsiveness to this cytokine. To gain more insight into the function of IL-6 in prostate carcinoma, we have inoculated LNCaP-IL-6+ cells, generated after prolonged treatment with IL-6, into nude mice (total n = 16, two independent experiments). Controls included animals bearing LNCaP-IL-6- cells, passaged at the same time as LNCaP-IL-6+ cells without supplementation of IL-6. LNCaP-IL-6+ tumor volumes were larger than those of their counterparts at all time points. There were no signs of cachexia in any of the experimental animals and all mice were free of metastases. To better understand the mechanisms responsible for accelerated growth of LNCaP-IL-6+ tumors, we have investigated the expression of cell-cycle regulatory molecules by Western blot analysis. The levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 were elevated in LNCaP-IL-6+ cells. There was a strong down-regulation of cyclins D1 and E in the LNCaP-IL-6+ subline. The cell-cycle inhibitor p27 was expressed at a low level in LNCaP-IL-6+ cells and could not be up-regulated by addition of IL-6. Most notably, LNCaP-IL-6+ cells exhibited a reduced expression of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Accelerated tumor growth in our model system was also associated with alterations in IL-6-signaling pathways. The ability of IL-6 to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 was abolished in the LNCaP-IL-6+ subline. In contrast, the levels of the MAPK extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 increased in cells generated after long-term IL-6 treatment. The inhibitor of MAPK kinase PD 98059 retarded the proliferation of LNCaP-IL-6+ but not that of control cells. In summary, we show in the present study that chronic exposure of prostate cancer cells to IL-6 facilitates tumor growth in vivo by abolishment of the growth control by pRb and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. These findings could be relevant to understand the role of IL-6 in prostate cancer progression.
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PMID:Accelerated in vivo growth of prostate tumors that up-regulate interleukin-6 is associated with reduced retinoblastoma protein expression and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. 1254 23

1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) exerts antiproliferative effects via cell cycle regulation in a variety of tumor cells, including prostate. We have previously shown that in the human prostate cancer cell line LN-CaP, 1,25-(OH)2D3 mediates an increase in cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 levels, inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) activity, hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, and accumulation of cells in G1. In this study, we investigated the mechanism whereby 1,25-(OH)2D3 increases p27 levels. 1,25-(OH)2D3 had no effect on p27 mRNA levels or on the regulation of a 3.5-kb fragment of the p27 promoter. The rate of p27 protein synthesis was not affected by 1,25-(OH)2D3 as measured by luciferase activity driven by the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of p27 that regulate p27 protein synthesis. Pulse-chase analysis of 35S-labeled p27 revealed an increased p27 protein half-life with 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment. Because Cdk2-mediated phosphorylation of p27 at Thr187 targets p27 for Skp2-mediated degradation, we examined the phosphorylation status of p27 in 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cells. 1,25-(OH)2D3 decreased levels of Thr187 phosphorylated p27, consistent with inhibition of Thr187 phosphorylation-dependent p27 degradation. In addition, 1,25-(OH)2D3 reduced Skp2 protein levels in LNCaP cells. Cdk2 is activated in the nucleus by Cdk-activating kinase through Thr160 phosphorylation and by cdc25A phosphatase via Thr14 and Tyr15 dephosphorylation. Interestingly, 1,25-(OH)2D3 decreased nuclear Cdk2 levels as assessed by subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy. Inhibition of Cdk2 by 1,25-(OH)2D3 may thus involve two mechanisms: 1) reduced nuclear Cdk2 available for cyclin binding and activation and 2) impairment of cyclin E-Cdk2-dependent p27 degradation through cytoplasmic mislocalization of Cdk2. These data suggest that Cdk2 mislocalization is central to the antiproliferative effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3.
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PMID:Vitamin D inhibits G1 to S progression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells through p27Kip1 stabilization and Cdk2 mislocalization to the cytoplasm. 1295 44

Epidemiological data on prostate cancer incidence has suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. The antiproliferative activity of 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VD) and its analogues has been demonstrated in many prostate cancer models, yet the detailed mechanisms underlying this protective effect of vitamin D remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that two androgen receptor (AR)-positive prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and CWR22R, are more sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of 1,25-VD compared to the AR-negative prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU 145. 1,25-VD treatment inhibited cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) activity and induced G0/G1 arrest. Interestingly, we also found that 1,25-VD treatment induced the expression of AR, and that the onset of the G0/G1 arrest in LNCaP and CWR22R cells is correlated with the onset of increasing expression of AR. This implies that the antiproliferative actions of 1,25-VD in AR-positive prostate cancer might be mediated through AR. Furthermore, a reduction in 1,25-VD-mediated growth inhibition was observed when AR signaling was blocked by antiandrogens, AR RNA interference, or targeted disruption of AR. Taken together, our data suggest that the androgen/AR signaling plays an important role in the antiproliferative effects of 1,25-VD and restoration of androgen responsiveness by 1,25-VD might be beneficial for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.
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PMID:Androgen signaling is required for the vitamin D-mediated growth inhibition in human prostate cancer cells. 1504 85

Abnormally suppressed levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are associated with aggressive androgen-independent prostate cancer and contribute to uncontrolled proliferation. The androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP-104R1, ALVA31 and PC-3, express low levels of the CKI, p21(CIP1), compared to the less-malignant, androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. We investigated the mechanism underlying this suppression by examining the role of Rho GTPases, signaling proteins that play important roles in cell cycle progression, at least in part through regulation of CKIs. Inhibition of Rac1 induced p21 expression in androgen-independent lines but had no effect on the higher p21 levels characteristic of LNCaP cells. This induction of p21 was functionally significant as evidenced by inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity and decreased cell proliferation. Conversely, overexpression of constitutively active Rac1 suppressed the higher p21 levels seen in LNCaP cells. Thus, Rac1 activity is both necessary and sufficient for suppression of p21 in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, Rac1 activity was significantly higher in all three androgen-independent cell lines compared to LNCaP cells. Thus in three models of aggressive human prostate cancer, hyperactivity of Rac1 corresponds to suppressed levels of p21. These results are unique in describing a role for Rac1 in p21 regulation and may implicate the Rac1 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for controlling prostate cancer cell growth following progression to androgen independence.
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PMID:Deregulation of the Rho GTPase, Rac1, suppresses cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(CIP1) levels in androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells. 1507 74

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males in the United States. This warrants the development of novel mechanism-based strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of prostate cancer. Several studies have shown that plant-derived alkaloids possess remarkable anticancer effects. Sanguinarine, an alkaloid derived from the bloodroot plant Sanguinaria canadensis, has been shown to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Previously, we have shown that sanguinarine possesses strong antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties against human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells and immortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes. Here, employing androgen-responsive human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells and androgen-unresponsive human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells, we studied the antiproliferative properties of sanguinarine against prostate cancer. Sanguinarine (0.1-2 micromol/L) treatment of LNCaP and DU145 cells for 24 hours resulted in dose-dependent (1) inhibition of cell growth [as evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay], (2) arrest of cells in G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle (as assessed by DNA cell cycle analysis), and (3) induction of apoptosis (as evaluated by DNA ladder formation and flow cytometry). To define the mechanism of antiproliferative effects of sanguinarine against prostate cancer, we studied the effect of sanguinarine on critical molecular events known to regulate the cell cycle and the apoptotic machinery. Immunoblot analysis showed that sanguinarine treatment of both LNCaP and DU145 cells resulted in significant (1) induction of cyclin kinase inhibitors p21/WAF1 and p27/KIP1; (2) down-regulation of cyclin E, D1, and D2; and (3) down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, 4, and 6. A highlight of this study was the fact that sanguinarine induced growth inhibitory and antiproliferative effects in human prostate carcinoma cells irrespective of their androgen status. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the involvement of cyclin kinase inhibitor-cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase machinery during cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by sanguinarine. These results suggest that sanguinarine may be developed as an agent for the management of prostate cancer.
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PMID:Sanguinarine causes cell cycle blockade and apoptosis of human prostate carcinoma cells via modulation of cyclin kinase inhibitor-cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase machinery. 1529 76

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), a multifunctional member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, superfamily, has powerful osteoinductive effects and causes cell cycle arrest in a variety of transformed cell lines. We have observed BMP-2-induced inhibition of cell proliferation in an androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP). To investigate the mechanism of inhibition of androgen-dependent growth by BMP-2, we examined the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and/or BMP-2 on cell cycle-related proteins in LNCaP cells. BMP-2 decreased the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein induced by treatment with DHT. DHT-induced expression of cyclin A and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) protein was also inhibited by co-treatment with BMP-2. Furthermore, BMP-2 induced expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1), a CDK inhibitor. These results indicate that changes in expression of these proteins lead to modulation of the phosphorylation state of Rb. DHT-induced E2F-1 protein and mRNA expressions was also inhibited by BMP-2, suggesting that BMP-2 inhibits DHT-induced growth of LNCaP cells through a decrease in E2F protein expression and suppression of E2F activity by hypophosphorylation of Rb.
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PMID:Bone morphogenetic protein-2 induces hypophosphorylation of Rb protein and repression of E2F in androgen-treated LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. 1564 40

Adaphostin (NSC680410), a small molecule congener of tyrphostin AG957, has been demonstrated previously to have significant anti-proliferative effects in several leukemia models. However, this effect of adaphostin in adherent cells/solid tumor models has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of adaphostin in the human prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Specifically, we explored the potential molecular mechanism(s) by which adaphostin elicits its anti-proliferative effect(s). We demonstrate that adaphostin inhibits the proliferation of PC-3 cells by inducing a G(1) phase cell cycle arrest. This adaphostin-induced G(1) arrest was associated with an increase in the expression of p21 and p27 and a decrease in the expression of G(1)-specific cyclins (cyclin A, D1, and D3) and cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6. Consequently, a dramatic decrease in the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein was also observed. Additionally, we found that adaphostin treatment induced a decrease in the phosphorylation of nucleophosmin, a major nuclear phosphoprotein, and that this decreased phosphorylation was a result of the p21- and p27-mediated inactivation of cyclin E-cyclin-dependent kinase 2 complex kinase activity. Furthermore, we have determined that the adaphostin-mediated cell cycle arrest of PC-3 cells is dependent upon activation of the p38 MAPK. We also demonstrate that the hepatocyte growth factor receptor-c-Met is involved in the adaphostin-mediated signaling events that regulate p38 MAPK. Taken together, these results identify for the first time a signaling cascade of adaphostin-mediated G(1) phase-specific cell cycle arrest in PC-3 cells. These findings suggest that the tyrphostin member has a broader spectrum of activity than originally predicted.
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PMID:Molecular mechanism of adaphostin-mediated G1 arrest in prostate cancer (PC-3) cells: signaling events mediated by hepatocyte growth factor receptor, c-Met, and p38 MAPK pathways. 1695 84

Cellular DNA damage triggers the DNA damage response pathway and leads to enforcement of cell cycle checkpoints, which are essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity and are activated in early stages of tumorigenesis. A special feature of prostate cancer is its high incidence and multifocality. To address the functionality of DNA damage checkpoints in the prostate, we analyzed the responses of human primary prostate epithelial cells (HPECs) and freshly isolated human prostate tissues to gamma-irradiation. We find that gamma-irradiation activates the ataxia telangiectasia mutated-associated DNA damage response pathway in the HPECs but that the clearance of phosphorylated histone H2AX (gammaH2AX) foci is delayed. Surprisingly, gamma-irradiated HPECs were unable to enforce cell cycle checkpoint arrest and had sustained cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2)-associated kinase activity because of a lack of inhibitory Cdk phosphorylation by Wee1A tyrosine kinase. We further show that HPECs express low levels of Wee1A and that ectopic Wee1A efficiently rescues the checkpoints. We recapitulate the absence of checkpoint responses in epithelium of ex vivo irradiated human prostate tissue despite robust induction of gammaH2AX. The findings show that prostate epithelium has a surprising inability to control checkpoint arrest, the lack of which may predispose to accrual of DNA lesions.
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PMID:Human prostate epithelium lacks Wee1A-mediated DNA damage-induced checkpoint enforcement. 1743 Oct 37


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