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 have previously shown that the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and represents a novel, attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of brain tumors. Here, we have developed an EphA2-targeted agent, ephrinA1-PE38QQR, a novel cytotoxin composed of ephrinA1, a ligand for EphA2, and PE38QQR, a mutated form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. EphrinA1-PE38QQR showed potent and dose-dependent killing of GBM cells overexpressing the EphA2 receptor in cell viability and clonogenic survival assays, with an average IC(50) of approximately 10(-11) mol/L. The conjugate was also highly effective in killing breast and prostate cancer cells overexpressing EphA2. The cytotoxic effect of ephrinA1-PE38QQR was specific, as it was neutralized by an excess of EphA2 ligands. Moreover, normal human endothelial cells and breast cancer cells that do not overexpress EphA2, as well as GBM cells that have down-regulated EphA2, were not susceptible to the cytotoxin. EphrinA1-PE38QQR-mediated cytotoxicity induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was, however, not responsible for cell death in response to the conjugate. In addition, the conjugate elicited no changes in the activity of survival pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase, measured by AKT phosphorylation. This is the first attempt to create a cytotoxic therapy using any of the ephrin ligands of either class (A or B) conjugated to a bacterial toxin. EphrinA1-PE38QQR is very potent and specific, produces cell death that is caspase independent, and forms the basis for the further development of clinically applicable EphA2-targeted cytotoxins.
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PMID:A novel, potent, and specific ephrinA1-based cytotoxin against EphA2 receptor expressing tumor cells. 1808 15

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has emerged as an exciting target for therapeutic intervention in the management of cancer. Immunohistochemistry studies have indicated higher expression of COX-2 in cancerous versus benign prostatic tissue. We have explored the role of COX-2 in prostate cancer in terms of attenuation of apoptosis and sensitivity to pharmacological agents, including COX-2 inhibitors. The human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was stably transfected with COX-2 (LNCaPCOX-2) and compared with the empty vector control line (LNCaPneo). Chemosensitivity testing indicated no change in sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of COX-2 inhibitors celecoxib or sulindac or VP16. However, LNCaPCOX-2 cells showed 3-fold resistance to carboplatin, which was partially reversed by coincubation with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Concomitant with reduced apoptotic response to cytotoxic agents, LNCaPCOX-2 cells expressed increased levels of survivin and Bcl-2 with enhanced activation of AKT. We also investigated the effects of celecoxib on expression levels of genes relevant to prostate cancer and drug resistance in our model system using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Celecoxib treatment resulted in highly significant increases in the mRNA expression of the smooth muscle component desmin, the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory response gene (NAG-1) in the LNCaPCOX-2 cell line compared with LNCaPneo cells. Significant decreases in survivin levels and increases in GSTpi and NAG-1 appeared to be COX-2-dependent effects because they were more pronounced in LNCaPCOX-2 cells. Our findings indicate both COX-2-dependent and -independent mechanisms attributable to celecoxib and support its utility in the management of prostate cancer.
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PMID:The effects of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in prostate cancer cells: modulation of response to cytotoxic agents. 1808 46

BRCA2 is a multifunctional tumor suppressor protein which plays critical roles in DNA repair, transcription, and cell proliferation, and the loss of which has been linked to the biology of several types of cancers. Here, on prostate adenocarcinoma specimens from 80 patients, we demonstrate that BRCA2 protein is lost in carcinoma cells compared to normal and hyperplastic prostate epithelium. Using highly metastatic prostate cancer PC-3 cells, we show that while BRCA2 depletion by small-interfering RNA promoted migration onto the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, and collagens, as well as invasion through the reconstituted basement membrane matrix Matrigel by more than 140%, recombinant BRCA2 overexpression decreased both phenomena by 57-80% and changed cell morphology from angular and spindle to round and compact. The BRCA2 inhibitory effect on cancer cell migration and invasion resulted from down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 protein levels due to increased MMP-9 proteolysis, and was signaled through inhibition of PI3-kinase/AKT and activation of MAPK/ERK pathway. In BRCA2-overexpressing PC-3 cells, transient transfection with a constitutively active PI3-kinase mutant or treatment with the MAPK/ERK inhibitor PD98059 rescued MMP-9 levels and restored the migratory and invasive capabilities. Consistently, PI3-kinase inhibition with a dominant-negative mutant or MAPK/ERK activation with a gain-of-function mutant reduced MMP-9 levels and prevented migration and invasion in wild-type PC-3 cells. These results provide novel evidence showing that a functional BRCA2 protein may limit the metastatic potential of neoplastic cells by down-regulating MMP-9 production through inhibition of PI3-kinase/AKT and activation of MAPK/ERK, effectively hindering cancer cell migration and invasion.
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PMID:Loss of BRCA2 promotes prostate cancer cell invasion through up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9. 1816 27

Androgen plays an important role in the growth of prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanism that underlies the development of resistance to anti-androgen therapy remains unknown. In this paper, we review the role of cell cycle regulators and steroid receptor co-activators for prostate cancer growth and survival. Cyclin E has been shown to increase the transactivation activity of the human androgen receptor and the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. On the other hand, p27 using an adenovirus vector was shown to reduce the size of tumors of human prostate cancer xenografts. Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) is often over-expressed in prostate cancers. Our results indicate that overexpression of SRC-3 can modulate the AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathway and stimulate cell growth in prostate cancer. In contrast, down-regulation of SRC-3 expression by small interfering RNA suppresses cell growth.
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PMID:[Molecular targeted therapy for prostate cancer]. 1826 Mar 63

Prostate Zn(2+) concentrations are among the highest in the body, and a marked decrease in the level of this ion is observed in prostate cancer. Extracellular Zn(2+) is known to regulate cell survival and proliferation in numerous tissues. In spite of this, a signaling role for extracellular Zn(2+) in prostate cancer has not been established. In the present study, we demonstrate that prostate metastatic cells are impermeable to Zn(2+), but extracellular Zn(2+) triggers a metabotropic Ca(2+) rise that is also apparent in the presence of citrate. Employing fluorescent imaging, we measured this activity in androgen-insensitive metastatic human cell lines, PC-3 and DU-145, and in mouse prostate tumor TRAMP-1 cells but not in androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells. The Ca(2+) response was inhibited by Galphaq and phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors as well as by intracellular Ca(2+) store depletion, indicating that it is mediated by a Gq-coupled receptor that activates the inositol phosphate (IP(3)) pathway consistent with the previously identified zinc-sensing receptor (ZnR). Zn(2+)-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT activation, as well as enhanced Zn(2+)-dependent cell growth and survival, were observed in PC-3 cells that exhibit ZnR activity, but not in a ZnR activity-deficient PC-3 subline. Interestingly, application of Zn(2+)-citrate (Zn(2+)Cit), at physiological concentrations, was followed by a profound functional desensitization of extracellular Zn(2+)-dependent signaling and attenuation of Zn(2+)-dependent cell growth. Our results indicate that extracellular Zn(2+) and Zn(2+)Cit, by triggering or desensitizing ZnR activity, distinctly regulate prostate cancer cell growth. Thus, therapeutic strategies based either on Zn(2+) chelation or administration of Zn(2+)Cit may be effective in attenuating prostate tumor growth.
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PMID:Extracellular zinc and zinc-citrate, acting through a putative zinc-sensing receptor, regulate growth and survival of prostate cancer cells. 1831 92

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) is frequently mutated or deleted in various human cancers. PTEN localizes predominantly to the cytoplasm and functions as a lipid phosphatase, thereby negatively regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT signaling pathway. PTEN can also localize to the nucleus, where it binds and regulates p53 protein level and transcription activity. However, the precise function of nuclear PTEN and the factors that control PTEN nuclear localization are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified oxidative stress as one of the physiological stimuli that regulate the accumulation of nuclear PTEN. Specifically, oxidative stress inhibits PTEN nuclear export, a process depending on phosphorylation of its amino acid residue Ser-380. Nuclear PTEN, independent of its phosphatase activity, leads to p53-mediated G(1) growth arrest, cell death, and reduction of reactive oxygen species production. Using xenografts propagated from human prostate cancer cell lines, we reveal that nuclear PTEN is sufficient to reduce tumor progression in vivo in a p53-dependent manner. The data outlined in this study suggest a unique role of nuclear PTEN to arrest and protect cells upon oxidative damage and to regulate tumorigenesis. Since tumor cells are constantly exposed to oxidative stress, our study elucidates the cooperative roles of nuclear PTEN with p53 in tumor suppression.
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PMID:PTEN nuclear localization is regulated by oxidative stress and mediates p53-dependent tumor suppression. 1833 25

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the coupled oxidative stress have been associated with tumor formation. Several studies suggested that ROS can act as secondary messengers and control various signaling cascades. In the present studies, we characterized the oxidative stress status in three different prostate cancer cells (PC3, DU145, and LNCaP) exhibiting various degree of aggressiveness and normal prostate cells in culture (WPMY1, RWPE1, and primary cultures of normal epithelial cells). We observed increased ROS generation in cancer cells compared with normal cells, and that extramitochondrial source of ROS generator, NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox) systems, are associated with the ROS generation and are critical for the malignant phenotype of prostate cancer cells. Moreover, diphenyliodonium, a specific Nox inhibitor, blocked proliferation, modulated the activity of growth signaling cascades extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/ERK2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase as well as AKT protein kinase B, and caused cyclin B-dependent G(2)-M cell cycle arrest. We also observed higher degrees of ROS generation in the PC3 cells than DU145 and LNCaP, and that ROS generation is critical for migratory/invasiveness phenotypes. Furthermore, blocking of the ROS production rather than ROS neutralization resulted in decreased matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity as well as loss of mitochondrial potential, plausible reasons for decreased cell invasion and increased cell death. Taken together, these studies show, for the first time, the essential role of ROS production by extramitochondrial source in prostate cancer and suggest that therapies aimed at reducing ROS production might offer effective means of combating prostate cancer in particular, and perhaps other malignancies in general.
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PMID:Oxidative stress is inherent in prostate cancer cells and is required for aggressive phenotype. 1833 58

Gambogic acid (GA), the main active compound of Gamboge hanburyi, has been previously reported to activate apoptosis in many types of cancer cell lines by targeting transferrin receptor and modulating nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway. Whether GA inhibits angiogenesis, which is crucial for cancer and other human diseases, remains unknown. Here, we found that GA significantly inhibited human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation, and microvessel growth at nanomolar concentration. In a xenograft prostate tumor model, we found that GA effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis and suppressed tumor growth with low side effects using metronomic chemotherapy with GA. GA was more effective in activating apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation and migration in HUVECs than in human prostate cancer cells (PC3), suggesting GA might be a potential drug candidate in cancer therapy through angioprevention with low chemotoxicity. Furthermore, we showed that GA inhibited the activations of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and its downstream protein kinases, such as c-Src, focal adhesion kinase, and AKT. Together, these data suggest that GA inhibits angiogenesis and may be a viable drug candidate in antiangiogenesis and anticancer therapies.
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PMID:Gambogic acid inhibits angiogenesis and prostate tumor growth by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling. 1833 65

The ability of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to modify prostate carcinoma viability in vitro and in vivo when combined with the HMG CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin and ionizing radiation was investigated. Treatment of PC-3 cells in vitro with hCG caused a modest increase in numbers of non-viable cells within 96 h. Treatment of cells with hCG followed by exposure to the HMG CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin suppressed AKT phosphorylation and enhanced the cytotoxic effects of hCG. The cytotoxic effects of hCG were blocked by expression of BCL-(XL) and dominant negative caspase 9. Treatment of mice bearing PC-3 flank tumors with lovastatin and hCG significantly reduced tumor volume within 7 days; this was also reflected in decreased ex vivo colony survival of the cells which correlated with increased cleavage of pro-caspase 3 and reduced Ki67 immuno-reactivity. In vitro, treatment of PC-3 cells with hCG followed by exposure to ionizing radiation enhanced the cytotoxic effects of hCG, that was further enhanced by lovastatin. In vivo, hCG radiosensitized PC-3 tumors and significantly enhanced the lethality of hCG and lovastatin treatment. Collectively, our findings argue that treatment of PC-3 prostate cancer tumors with hCG, lovastatin and radiation represents a potential novel therapeutic approach.
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PMID:Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) interacts with lovastatin and ionizing radiation to modulate prostate cancer cell viability in vivo. 1839 94

From experiments with lower eukaryotes it is known that the metabolic rate and also the rate of aging are tightly controlled by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/insulin signal transduction pathway. The mitochondrial theory of aging implies that an increased metabolic rate leads to increased mitochondrial activity; increased production of reactive oxygen species due to these alterations would speed up the aging process. To address the question if mitochondrial activity is influenced by insulin/IGF signaling, we have established an experimental system to determine the influence of IGF-I-dependent signaling on mitochondrial function. We used DU145 prostate cancer cells, known for the intact IGF signal transduction pathway, to address the influence of IGF receptor activation on mitochondrial function by high-resolution respirometry. These experiments revealed that indeed mitochondrial function is regulated by IGF signaling, and up-regulation of respiration seems to require phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signaling, but is independent of IGF effects on cell cycle progression. Collectively these data establish a regulatory cross-talk between insulin/IGF signal transduction and mitochondrial function, two major pathways implicated in controlling the rate of aging.
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PMID:Insulin-like growth factor-induced signals activate mitochondrial respiration. 1838 21


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