Identification of Novel Retinoid Targets in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Retinoids function upon binding to nuclear retinoid receptors (RARs, RXRs) and have shown promise for the chemoprevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Novel synthetic retinoid-related molecules (RRMs) that function as RAR gamma/beta-selective agonists (MX3350-1, CD2325) or antagonists (MX781) were discovered with strong anticancer activity. These RRMs induce apoptosis independently of RARs. The cellular targets that mediate RRM-anticancer activity are unknown and theie mechanism of action is currently under investigation. The main goal of this project was to identify genes that mediate RRM anticancer activity upon selection of Genetic Suppressor Elements (GSE) that confer resistance to RRM treatment in prostate cancer cells. We have performed several screenings in the presence of toxic amounts of MX781 and MX3350-1. GSEs have been subsequently rescued from surviving cells by PCR amplification using primers specific for the GSE library, followed by DNA sequencing and BLAST homology search for the identification of the corresponding genes. The results of the initial screenings have not been completely reproduced in subsequent experiments and most of the genes tested in functional validation studies have proved to be unnecessary for RRM-induced apoptosis. Our conclusion is that RRMs could activate several independent pathways that converge in apoptosis. Targeting of individual genes may not be sufficient to completely abrogate RRM-mediated cell death.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA478842

Entities

People

  • F. J. Piedrafita

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antisense Elements (Genetics)
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Drug Therapy
  • Identification
  • Molecules
  • Neoplasms
  • Organelles
  • Prostate
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Proteins
  • Targets
  • Therapy
  • Validation

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Oncology and Biomarker-Based Cancer Detection.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology