The prostatic environment suppresses growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer xenografts: an effect influenced by testosterone.

• BACKGROUND: Interactions between prostate cancer cells and their surrounding stroma play an important role in the growth and maintenance of prostate tumors. To elucidate this further, we investigated how growth of androgen-dependent (AD) LNCaP and androgen-independent (AI) LNCaP-19 prostate tumors was affected by different microenvironments and androgen levels. METHODS: Tumor cells were implanted subcutaneously and orthotopically in intact and castrated immunodeficient mice. Orthotopic tumor growth was followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gene expression in the tumors was evaluated by means of microarray analysis and microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results showed that LNCaP-19 tumors grew more rapidly at the subcutaneous site than in the prostate, where tumors were obviously inhibited. Castration of the mice did not affect ectopic tumors but did result in increased tumor growth in the prostatic environment. This effect was reversed by testosterone treatment. In contrast to LNCaP-19, the LNCaP cells grew rapidly in the prostate and castration reduced tumor development. Gene expression analysis of LNCaP-19 tumors revealed an upregulation of genes, inhibiting tumor growth (including ADAMTS1, RGS2 and protocadherin 20) and a downregulation of genes, promoting cell adhesion and metastasis (including N-cadherin and NRCAM) in the slow-growing orthotopic tumors from intact mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the prostatic environment has a varying impact on AD and AI tumor xenografts. Data indicate that the androgen-stimulated prostatic environment limits growth of orthotopic AI tumors through induction of genes that inhibit tumor growth and suppression of genes that promote cell adhesion and metastasis.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

ADAM Proteins

metabolism

Adenocarcinoma

metabolism

pathology

physiopathology

Androgens

physiology

Animals

Cadherins

metabolism

Castration

Cell Adhesion

drug effects

physiology

Cell Adhesion Molecules

metabolism

Cell Line

Tumor

Cell Proliferation

drug effects

Down-Regulation

drug effects

physiology

Humans

Male

Mice

Mice

Inbred BALB C

Mice

Nude

Prostate

physiology

Prostatic Neoplasms

metabolism

pathology

physiopathology

RGS Proteins

metabolism

Testosterone

pharmacology

Transplantation

Heterologous

pathology

Up-Regulation

drug effects

physiology

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