An Embryonic Growth Pathway is Reactivated in Human Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in prostate cancer represent a promising target for drug therapies to arrest or slow tumor growth. For this potential to be realized, it is necessary to identify one specific epithelial-mesenchymal -interaction which is critical for tumor growth. We have shown that Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is absolutely required for normal prostate development. Our preliminary studies show this pathway is expressed at very low levels in the normal adult prostate but reactivated in human prostate cancer. This research postulates that prostate cancer cells commandeer this normal epithelial-mesenchymal signaling pathway to recruit stromal cells to support abnormal tumor growth and tests the hypothesis that SHH signaling promotes prostate tumor growth. The primary goal of the study is to establish the concept that prostate tumor growth is promoted by re-activation of the SHH-Gli pathway and identify this as a novel target for drug treatment to slow or arrest prostate cancer growth.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA420333

Entities

People

  • Wade Bushman

Organizations

  • Northwestern University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Culture Techniques
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Gene Expression
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neoplasms
  • Peptide Growth Factors
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Proteins
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Stromal Cells
  • Surveys
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissues

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Oncology
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).