A major goal of researchers has been to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer from androgen dependence to independence.
David Beach and colleagues from University College London studied the ability of c-myc to confer androgen-independent prostate cancer cell growth. In the December 4 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation these authors report that ectopic expression of c-myc allowed human androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells to grow without androgen stimulation and to keep their tumorigenic activity in androgen-depleted conditions.
Analysis of signaling pathways showed that c-myc is regulated by the androgen receptor, is required for androgen-dependent growth and, following ectopic expression, can induce androgen-independent growth.
In addition, c-myc downregulation slowed the growth of androgen-independent tumor cell lines. These results suggest a physiological role for c-myc in prostate cancer and a possible target for therapeutic intervention.
TITLE: Myc confers androgen-independent prostate cancer cell growth
AUTHOR CONTACT:
David H. Beach
University College London, London, United Kingdom
Phone: 0032-2555-6016
Fax: 0032-2555-6257
E-mail: dhbeach@btinternet.com
View a PDF of this article at: http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/112/11/1724
Journal of Clinical Investigation