Dietary Methionine Restriction: Novel Treatment for Hormone Independent Prostate Cancer
Abstract
Many studies have shown that methionine restriction inhibits growth of a variety of human tumor xenografts, including prostate cancers. In contrast, methionine restriction is relatively well tolerated by normal host tissues. The overall goal of the current project is to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which methionine restriction inhibits tumor growth. During the second year of support, we focused on Specific Aim 3, which is to determine whether methionine restriction leads to DNA demethylation in cancer cells. We used Southern blot analysis with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes, western blot analysis, and RT-PCR to determine whether methionine restriction restored expression of growth inhibitory genes known to be transcriptionally silenced in cancer cells. We studied human prostate, colon, bladder, and leukemia cell lines. Treatment with the demethylating drug 5-azactydine was used as a positive control for DNA demethylation. We found that methionine restriction did not lead to DNA demethylation or re-expression of the genes studied. These results are consistent with published studies showing that DNA demethylation requires cell division, which rapidly ceases in response to methionine - restriction. Future studies will focus on the possible role of methionine restriction in regulation of other critical methyl acceptors, such as RNA and protein.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA419057
Entities
People
- Daniel E. Epner
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine