Prostate Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Prostate Cancer, including details on symptoms, genetics, screening, treatment, information.

Identification of a cell of origin for human prostate cancer.

Goldstein AS, Huang J, Guo C, Garraway IP, Witte ON

Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Luminal cells are believed to be the cells of origin for human prostate cancer, because the disease is characterized by luminal cell expansion and the absence of basal cells. Yet functional studies addressing the origin of human prostate cancer have not previously been reported because of a lack of relevant in vivo human models. Here we show that basal cells from primary benign human prostate tissue can initiate prostate cancer in immunodeficient mice. The cooperative effects of AKT, ERG, and androgen receptor in basal cells recapitulated the histological and molecular features of human prostate cancer, with loss of basal cells and expansion of luminal cells expressing prostate-specific antigen and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase. Our results demonstrate that histological characterization of cancers does not necessarily correlate with the cellular origins of the disease.

Published 30 July 2010 in Science, 329(5991): 568-71.
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Articles on Prostate Cancer published 28 July 2010:

Androgen-induced TOP2B-mediated double-strand breaks and prostate cancer gene rearrangements.   Nat Genet, 42(8): 668-75.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can lead to the development of genomic rearrangements, which are hallmarks of cancer. Fusions between TMPRSS2, encoding the transmembrane serine protease isoform 2, and ERG, encoding the v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog, are among the most common oncogenic rearrangements observed in human cancer. We show that androgen signaling promotes co-recruitment of androgen receptor and topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B) to sites of TMPRSS2-ERG genomic ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

NKX3.1 as a marker of prostatic origin in metastatic tumors.   Am J Surg Pathol, 34(8): 1097-105.

NKX3.1 is a prostatic tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 8p. Although most studies have shown that staining for NKX3.1 protein is positive in the majority of primary prostatic adenocarcinomas, it has been shown to be downregulated in many high-grade prostate cancers, and completely lost in the majority of metastatic prostate cancers (eg, in 65% to 78% of lesions). A recent study showed that NKX3.1 staining with a novel antibody was highly sensitive and specific for high-grade prostatic ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Prostate Cancer published 27 July 2010:

Improved resolution of diagnostic problems in selected prostate needle biopsy specimens by using the ASAP workup: a prospective study of interval sections vs new recut sections.   Am J Clin Pathol, 134(2): 293-8.

This study assessed the value of an atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) workup consisting of preparing new recut sections from the paraffin block and performing H&E-stained sections and immunostains (using the antibody cocktail for p63, cytokeratins 5 and 14, and alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase) on the slides. We compared the ASAP workup with the interval workup, the common practice of performing the same immunostains on the saved interval sections, in 105 cases because of focal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

5alphaDH-DOC (5alpha-dihydro-deoxycorticosterone) activates androgen receptor in castration-resistant prostate cancer.   Cancer Sci, 101(8): 1897-904.

Prostate cancer often relapses during androgen-depletion therapy, even under the castration condition in which circulating androgens are drastically reduced. High expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and genes involved in androgen metabolism indicate a continued role for AR in castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPCs). There is increasing evidence that some amounts of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and other androgens are present sufficiently to activate AR within CRPC tissues, and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Prostate Cancer published 26 July 2010:

'Insignificant' prostate cancer on prostatectomy and cystoprostatectomy: variation on a theme 'low-volume/low-grade' prostate cancer?   BJU Int, 106(3): 304-15.

Although 'insignificant' prostate cancer has been examined separately in radical prostatectomy (RP) and radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) studies, it is not entirely clear whether cancers designated as 'insignificant' on RP and RCP represent the same, similar or different forms of prostate cancer. Insignificant prostate cancer has been traditionally defined based on the pathological findings in the whole prostate gland. In addition to the pathological determinants of 'insignificant' prostate ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Racial variation in the pattern and quality of care for prostate cancer in the USA: mind the gap.   BJU Int, 106(3): 322-8.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on racial variation in the pattern of care (PoC) and quality of care (QoC) for prostate cancer, as there are known racial disparities in the incidence and outcomes of prostate cancer. While there are some biological explanations for these differences, they do not completely explain the variation. Differences in the appropriateness and QoC delivered to men of different racial groups may contribute to disparities in outcome. METHODS: We searched the USA ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Development of a scale to assess patient misperceptions about treatment choices for localized prostate cancer.   BJU Int, 106(3): 334-41.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a questionnaire to assess a patient's knowledge of his cancer, understanding of treatment choices, and judgement of his survival (KUJ) with and without treatment, as treatment for localized prostate cancer (LPC) can lead to urinary, sexual and bowel side-effects and might not improve survival in 75% of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Although >90% of patients in the USA are diagnosed with LPC, approximately 94% of them choose treatment, such that newly diagnosed ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Lymph node dissection during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: comparison of lymph node yield and clinical outcomes when including common iliac nodes with standard template dissection.   BJU Int, 106(3): 391-6.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative outcomes of standard pelvic to full-template lymph node (LN) dissection (LND) during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 94 patients undergoing RALP with LND between January 2007 and August 2008, by one surgeon. In February 2008 the LND template was modified to include common iliac and medial hypogastric LNs. Clinical and pathological patient characteristics were analysed, including total number of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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