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- Adamo, Hanibal, et al.
(author)
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Prostate cancer induces C/EBPβ expression in surrounding epithelial cells which relates to tumor aggressiveness and patient outcome
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Implantation of rat prostate cancer cells into the normal rat prostate results in tumor-stimulating adaptations in the tumor-bearing organ. Similar changes are seen in prostate cancer patients and they are related to outcome. One gene previously found to be upregulated in the non-malignant part of a tumor-bearing prostate lobe in rats was the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (C/EBPβ). To explore this further, we examined C/EBPβ expression by quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot in normal rat prostate tissue surrounding slow-growing non-metastatic Dunning G, rapidly growing poorly metastatic (AT-1), and rapidly growing highly metastatic (MatLyLu) rat prostate tumors―and also by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray (TMA) from prostate cancer patients managed by watchful waiting.In rats, C/EBPβ mRNA expression was upregulated in the surrounding tumor-bearing prostate lobe. In tumors and in the surrounding non-malignant prostate tissue, C/EBPβ was detected by immunohistochemistry in some epithelial cells and in infiltrating macrophages. The magnitude of glandular epithelial C/EBPβ expression in the tumor-bearing prostates was associated with tumor size, with distance to the tumor, and with tumor cell metastatic capacity.In prostate cancer patients, high expression of C/EBPβ in glandular epithelial cells in the surrounding tumor-bearing tissue was associated with accumulation of M1 macrophages (iNOS+) and a favorable outcome. High expression of C/EBPβ in tumor epithelial cells was associated with high Gleason score, high tumor cell proliferation, the presence of metastases at diagnosis, and poor outcome.
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- Jernberg, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Molecular features of prostate cancer bone metastases harboring androgen receptor gene amplification
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The relation between AR amplification and other mechanisms behind castration-resistance in prostate cancer, such as increased expression of AR splice variants and steroid-converting enzymes in CRPC metastases, has been poorly examined. Specific aims of this study were therefore to examine AR amplification in hormone-naïve and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) bone metastases and to explore molecular and functional consequences of this, with the long-term goal of identifying molecular targets for treatment of CRPC bone metastases. AR amplification was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and verified in 16 (53 %) of the CRPC bone metastases (n=30), and in none of the untreated bone metastases (n=10). AR amplification was associated with increased expression of AR and its constitutively active AR-V7 splice variant as well as with co-amplification of genes in the AR proximity at Xq12, such as of YIPF6. Furthermore, gene expression pattern pointed at decreased osteoclast activity, and consequently decreased bone resorption and increased bone mineral density in AR amplified metastases. In conclusion, our results indicated a sclerotic phenotype in CRPC bone metastases with AR amplification that may be of both biological and clinical relevance. This is a novel hypothesis that requires to be thoroughly examined.
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- Nordstrand, Annika, et al.
(author)
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Bone remodeling in relation to androgen receptor activity in prostate cancer bone metastases
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Prostate cancer often metastasizes to bone and the metastases are generally classified as osteoblastic, although a mixed osteoblastic/osteolytic bone response may exist. The present study aimed to characterize the bone remodeling activity in clinical bone metastasis samples, with the overall hypothesis that diversities exist that may be of importance for clinical response to current therapies. Specifically, we aimed to study bone remodeling activity in relation to tumor cell androgen receptor (AR) activity. Metastasis tissue obtained from treatment-naïve (n=11) and castration-resistant (n=28) patients during surgery for spinal cord compression was characterized using whole-genome expression analysis followed by multivariate modeling and functional enrichment analysis as well as by histological evaluation. By analyzing expression levels of a predefined set of markers representing osteoclasts (ACP5, CTSK, MMP9), osteoblasts (ALPL, BGLAP, RUNX2) and osteocytes (SOST), we found high osteoblast activity to be coupled to a high osteoclast activity. Immunohistochemistry verified a significant correlation between RUNX2 positive osteoblasts and TRAP (ACP5) positive osteoclasts lining metastatic bone surfaces in close contact to tumor cells. No difference in bone remodeling activity was seen between treatment naïve and castration-resistant patients, while the bone remodeling activity was inversely correlated to AR activity within the tissue (measured as expression of the AR, FOXA1, HOXB13, KLK2, KLK3, NKX3-1, STEAP2, and TMPRSS2) and patient serum PSA levels. Ontology analysis suggested enriched BMP signaling in metastases with high bone remodeling activity and, accordingly, BMP4 mRNA expression was significantly higher in bone metastases with than without ongoing bone formation, as determined from histological evaluation of van Gieson-stained sections. In conclusion, we have observed diversities in bone remodeling activity among clinical samples of prostate cancer bone metastases that may be of importance when selecting therapy for patients with bone metastatic cancer, especially when bone-targeting therapies are considered. The importance of the BMP signaling system for the development of sclerotic metastasis lesion deserve further exploration.
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- Tran, Phong, et al.
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Imbalanced dNTP pools induce mutator and cancer phenotypes in mice
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The high accuracy of DNA replication is achieved through the nucleotide selectivity of DNA polymerases, polymerase proofreading, and the mismatch repair (MMR) system that act in series. While defects in proofreading and MMR are strongly associated with the development of cancers, decreased nucleotide selectivity due to mutations in replicative DNA polymerases is an uncommon driver of cancer development. Because nucleotide selectivity can also be decreased by imbalanced dNTP pools, we investigated to what extent imbalanced dNTP pools can induce cancers. To this end we developed a mouse model with a mutation in the allosteric specificity site of ribonucleotide reductase, which is responsible for the balanced production of dNTPs. These mice had ~2-fold increased dCTP and dTTP levels and normal dATP and dGTP levels. Despite this mild dNTP pool imbalance, mutant mice had a higher incidence and an earlier onset of cancers, and these were different from the cancers that developed in wild-type controls. Because dNTP pool imbalances can be caused by defects in a plethora of genes, we propose that decreased nucleotide selectivity might be a major factor contributing to the development of spontaneous cancers.
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- Åstrand, Anders, et al.
(author)
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The first study on whole human prostate ex vivo using a tactile resonance sensor for cancer detection
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common form of cancer among males in Europe and the USA. A prostatectomy i.e. the removal of the prostate is the most common form of curative treatment. Prostate cancer can be suspected by a blood test for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal examination (DRE) where a physician palpates the prostate through the rectum and where stiff nodules on the prostate is an indication for PCa. The final diagnosis of PCa is made by microscopic evaluation of ultrasound-guided biopsies taken from suspicious parts of the gland. After a prostatectomy the entire prostate is histopathologically analysed. One area of interest is the superficial part of the prostate gland as tumour growth on the surface suggests that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Tactile resonance sensors can be used to detect areas of different stiffness in soft tissue through a stiffness parameter. It is suggested that tactile resonance sensors can be used to detect prostate cancer since tumours in the human prostate usually is stiffer compared to surrounding healthy glandular tissue. The aim of the study was to detect tumours on, and beneath the surface, of whole human prostate glands ex vivo using a tactile resonance sensor system (TRSS). Model studies on spherical shaped tissue phantoms made of silicone and porcine tissue were performed to evaluate the ability of the TRSS to detect stiffer volumes at a distance beneath the surface. Finally two resected human prostate glands ex vivo from patients undergoing surgery for prostate cancer were studied. From the results it was concluded that the clamping force from the rotatable sample holder did not affect the magnitude of the stiffness parameter for the silicone samples. For the porcine muscle samples, the stiffness parameter showed to be affected by clamping forces larger than about 800 mN. The embedded stiff silicone nodules placed about 4 mm under the surface could be detected in both the silicone and biological tissue models with a sensor indentation distance of 0.6 mm. The measurements on resected whole human prostates showed that areas with elevated stiffness parameter values correlated (p < 0.05) with areas where cancer tumours were detected using histolopathological evaluation of the prostate. The tumours were significantly stiffer than the healthy tissue in the dorsal region. This is promising for the development of a clinically useful instrument to detect superficial prostate cancer.
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