PTEN, A Tumor Suppressor Gene for Prostate Cancer
Abstract
The PTEN tumor suppressor gene encodes a lipid and protein phosphatase and is inactivated in a wide variety of human malignant neoplasms, including gliomas, melanomas, lymphomas and carcinomas of the endometrium, kidney, bladder, lung and prostate. Our work has conclusively demonstrated that loss of the PTEN gene is associated with increased rates of tumor progression in a mouse model of prostate cancer. A key observation is that loss of even a single allele of the PTEN gene can increase rates of tumor progression and this resolves a longstanding dilemma regarding the discordance between rates of LOH at the PTEN locus and observed rates of mutation of the gene. Our results indicate that at least one factor leading to increased tumor progression is increased tumor angiogenesis secondary to increased VEGF expression in tumors with loss of the PTEN gene. However, based on the current literature, alterations in apoptosis and proliferation are also likely to play an important role. The availability of numerous clonal cell lines and our bank of tissues from the PTEN(+/-) and WT(+/+) mice will be invaluable in dissecting out the many factors associated with PTEN inactivation that promote tumor progression in prostate cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA392345
Entities
People
- Michael M. Ittmann
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine