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A T Porter

Publications and source records attributed to A T Porter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Suppression of W256 carcinosarcoma cell apoptosis by arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Serum-cultured rat W256 carcinosarcoma cells of the monocytoid origin undergo rapid apoptosis in response to the lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid). Exogenous arachidonic acid (AA), in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, suppressed NDGA-induced W256 cell apoptosis as well as DNA fragmentation, with the maximal effect observed at approximately 25 microM. Mobilization of endogenous AA by calcium ionophore A23187 provided an even stronger and longer-lasting protection against NDGA-caused cell death. The A23187 effect on AA release as well as W256 cell death can be blocked by bromophenacyl bromide, thus suggesting involvement of phospholipase A2 activation. Serum withdrawal similarly caused W256 cells to undergo typical apoptosis, which was not rescued by several growth factors commonly found in serum. However, exogenous AA suppressed serum starvation-induced W256 cell apoptosis and significantly extended cell survival in a dose-dependent manner. Lipoxygenase products, 12(S)- and 15(S)-, but not 5(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), in a dose-dependent fashion, also prevented both NDGA- and serum-starvation-induced W256 cell apoptosis. AA appears to suppress W256 cell apoptosis via distinct signaling pathway(s) since it does not prevent cell death triggered by several other inducers. Examination of a panel of polyunsaturated fatty acids revealed that alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid can also suppress NDGA-induced W256 cell apoptosis. Our data suggest that AA and other polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or their metabolites may enhance tumor growth not only by promoting cell proliferation but also by suppressing apoptosis.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Target to apoptosis: a hopeful weapon for prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm and the second leading cause of male death in this country. Multiple genetic and epigenetic factors have been implicated in the oncogenesis and progression of prostate cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease remain largely unknown. The major difficulty in the clinical management of prostate cancer stems from the reality that reliable and accurate diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers are not available and that effective treatment regimens for hormone-resistant prostate cancers are yet to be developed. METHODS: The present review, through extensive literature research, summarizes the most recently accumulated experimental and clinical data on the relationship between apoptosis and prostate cancer. We analyze the possibility of inducing prostate cancer cell apoptosis by: 1) androgen ablation by castration or biochemical antagonists: 2) chemotherapeutic drugs or natural/synthetic chemicals; 3) manipulation of apoptosis-related oncoproteins; and 4) modulation of intracellular signal transducers. RESULTS: 1) Prostate cancer, like most other solid tumors, represents a very heterogeneous entity. Most prostate cancers, at the time of clinical diagnosis, present themselves as mixtures of androgen-dependent and androgen-independent cells. 2) Most prostate cancers respond initially to androgen ablation since the population of androgen-dependent cells undergoes rapid apoptosis upon androgen withdrawal. However, androgen ablation rarely cures patients, most of whom will experience recurrence due to takeover of the tumor mass by androgen-independent tumor cells as well as the emergence of apoptosis-resistant clones as a result of further genetic alterations such as bcl-2 amplification. 3) On the other hand, although androgen-independent prostate cancer cells do not undergo apoptosis upon androgen blocking, they do maintain the appropriate molecular machinery of apoptosis. Therefore, certain conventional chemotherapy drugs can eliminate androgen-independent cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. 4) However, most drugs used in chemotherapy induce apoptosis or mediate cytotoxicity only in proliferating cancer cells. Human prostate cancer cells demonstrate very slow growth kinetics. Thus, novel chemical/natural products need be identified to eradicate those nonproliferating cancer cells. In this regard, the angiogenesis inhibitor, linomide, and a plant extract, beta-lapachone, demonstrate very promising apoptosis-inducing effects on prostate cancer cells in a proliferation-independent manner. 5) An alternative way to modulate the apoptotic response is by interfering with the expression levels of essential regulatory molecule of apoptosis. Bcl-2 and p53 represent two prime targets for such manipulations. 6) Finally, modulation of signal transduction pathways (e.g., intracellular Ca2+ levels, PKC activity) involved in apoptosis may also induce and/or enhance the apoptotic response of prostate cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Modulation of apoptotic response represents a novel mechanism-based approach which may help identify novel drugs and/or develop new therapeutic regimens for the treatment of prostate cancers.

Androgens↗

Ectopic expression of platelet integrin alphaIIb beta3 in tumor cells from various species and histological origin.

The integrin alphaIIb beta3 is a membrane receptor which was considered to be expressed only in cells of megakaryocytic lineage. We have shown that alphaIIb beta3 is expressed in mouse melanoma B16a cells, and in human prostate adenocarcinoma cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the megakaryocytic product alphaIIb beta3 was functionally expressed in other non-megakaryocyte lineage tumor cells. By using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have obtained data demonstrating that alphaIIb beta3 is expressed in a variety of tumor cell lines (17) derived from different species (human, rat and mouse) and of different histological origins (skin, blood, lung, liver, kidney, cervix, colon, bladder, breast and prostate). Immunostaining of tumor cells with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to alphaIIb beta3 demonstrates that alphaIIb beta3 protein is also expressed in tumor cells. A protein kinase C activator PMA stimulates adhesion of tumor cells to fibronectin and fibrinogen, and this stimulated adhesion is blocked by a function-blocking MAb directed to alphaIIb beta3. Our results indicate that the megakaryocytic gene product alphaIIb beta3 integrin is widely expressed among tumor cells of non-megakaryocytic lineage, suggesting that ectopic expression of this integrin may play an important role in tumor progression.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The high affinity alphaIIb beta3 integrin is involved in invasion of human melanoma cells.

Integrins play an important role in mediating tumor cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) and tumor cell-endothelial cell interactions. The integrin alphaIIb beta3 (GPIIb-IIIa) is expressed on the surface of platelets in an inactive state and requires a conformational change to recognize extracellular matrix proteins such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin, and others. In this study, we questioned whether human melanoma cells express the alphaIIb beta3 integrin. Reverse transcription-PCR/Southern blotting, Northern blotting, and dot blotting demonstrated the presence of the platelet-type alphaIIb beta3 integrin in human melanoma WM 983B, WM 983A, and WM 35 cells. AP-2, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to alphaIIb beta3, positively stained two human melanoma specimens, indicating expression of this integrin in vivo. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, two activators of protein kinase C, stimulated adhesion of melanoma cells to immobilized fibronectin and PAC-1, a mAb to alphaIIb beta3. PAC-1 specifically recognizes the conformationally active form of platelet alphaIIb beta3. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated adhesion of WM 983B cells to PAC-1 was completely blocked by an RGD peptide, thus providing evidence that tumor cell adhesion to PAC-1 is mediated via the alphaIIb beta3 integrin but not the Fc receptor. Confocal immunofluorescent studies demonstrated that fibronectin-adherent melanoma cells possess an intracellularly localized pool of high-affinity alphaIIb beta3. Invasion of WM 983B cells through fibronectin was stimulated by 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and this stimulated invasion was blocked by the mAb PAC-1. The data suggest that melanoma cells express the high-affinity alphaIIb beta3 integrin, which is involved in tumor invasion.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Diagnostic and prognostic markers for human prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality of prostate cancer are increasing at alarming rates, partially due to an aging population. Early detection of prostate cancer, using clinically sensitive procedures and/or tumor markers (e.g., prostate-specific antigen [PSA]), is of prime importance. However, the choice of therapeutic interventions for prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis is largely dependent on clinical and pathologic staging and prediction of the degree of aggressiveness of the disease. Clinically applicable prognostic markers are urgently needed to assist in the selection of optimal therapy. METHODS: Literature review of the potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for human prostate cancer. RESULTS: Well-established tissue prognostic indicators, including histologic grade, margin positivity, pathologic stage, intraglandular tumor extent, and DNA ploidy, are not reviewed in this paper. Recently, a number of novel markers have been identified. In this paper, we begin with a discussion of a number of well-established as well as investigational diagnostic markers and then focus on evaluation of prognostic markers. Diagnostic markers that have prognostic value and investigational prognostic markers are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, only PSA is utilized for early diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer. A number of potential prognostic markers warrant further investigation. Multimarker analysis is implicated.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Involvement of the multiple tumor suppressor genes and 12-lipoxygenase in human prostate cancer. Therapeutic implications.

We performed a detailed and comprehensive study of the involvement of tumor suppressor genes in human prostate cancer. We utilized primers flanking either the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) or variable number of tandem repeat [VNTR; microsatellite or simple repeat site (SRS)] polymorphic sites to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplify the genomic DNA and detect loss of heterozygosity of the target genes. Quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels and PCR/single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing carried out to detect mutation of the tumor suppressor genes. We found that multiple tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, DCC, APC, MCC, BRCA1, and WAF1/CIP1) were inactivated at different frequencies via various mechanisms [e.g., loss of heterozygosity (LOH), loss of expression (LOE), mutation, and inactivation by cellular binding protein]. Several important and novel findings are as following: LOH and LOE of the DCC gene, LOH, LOE, and possible mutation of the APC/MCC genes, LOH of the BRCA1 locus, and mutation of the WAF1/CIP1 gene. For p53 tumor suppressor gene alone, multiple inactivation mechanisms (i.e., LOH, LOE, mutation, and amplification of the cellular inactivating protein MDM2) were identified. A possible involvement of genomic instability or mutator phenotype in human prostate cancer was investigated by microsatellite typing using PCR. A high frequency of microsatellite instability was detected and the microsatellite instability found to correlate with advanced stage and poor differentiation of prostate cancer, suggesting that genes functioning in DNA mismatch repair or general stabilization of the genome may be involved in prostate cancer. The results obtained in this study suggested that multiple tumor suppressor genes (both known and unknown genes) may share the role in prostate cancer; a pattern which has been found in a number of human malignancies such as cancers of the esophagus, colon and breast. In fact, we performed deletion studies aimed at localizing potential tumor suppressor loci on various chromosomal regions. A number of chromosomal regions (i.e., 6p12-24 and 17q21) were found to potentially harbor unidentified tumor suppressor genes. Detailed deletion mapping has localized the potential tumor suppressor loci to a < 2 Mb region centromeric to the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17q. In addition, we identified a number of novel mechanisms of tumor suppressor gene inactivation, in prostate cancer such as loss of mRNA expression of the DCC, APC, MCC and p53 gene, and mutator phenotype. And for the very first time, we identified somatic mutations of the WAF1/CIP1 gene in primary human malignancy-human prostate cancer. This finding provides the first evidence in primary tumor that the WAF1/CIP1 gene may be a tumor suppressor gene and may be involved in prostate cancer. We identified 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) as a potential prognostic marker for human prostate cancer. mRNA expression levels of the 12-LOX gene was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and semi-quantitative in situ hybridization (ISH) in 122 pairs of matched normal and tumor tissues from prostate cancer patients. We found that 12-LOX expression levels were elevated in approximately half of the patients analyzed and the 12-LOX elevation correlates with advanced stage, poor differentiation, and surgical margin positivity. Our data suggest that 12-LOX may serve as a correlative marker for a more aggressive phenotype of prostate cancer and therefore for poor prognosis. We are currently refining our assays for possible clinical applicability. Since not all patients with loss of expression of the DCC gene showed LOH of the DCC locus, there must be other mechanism(s) responsible for loss of expression of the DCC gene. When we analyzed the relationship between DCC loss of expression and 12-LOX elevation in prostate cancer pati

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Modeling of internal dose distributions during SR-89 treatment of a patient with bone metastases.

METHODS: A model of strontium biodistribution similar to the one created by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) was applied for activity and absorbed dose calculations in a patient with bone metastases treated with Sr-89 strontium chloride. Metastases are represented just like all other organs and tissues collecting strontium. Data from the ICRP's standard Reference Man were used. RESULTS: Results include calculated time-activity data for all model compartments and for relevant target organs. Absorbed doses per unit administered activity were calculated for blood (0.036 cGy/MBq), soft tissues (0.046 cGy/MBq), bone marrow (1.15 cGy/MBq), bone surface (1.45 cGy/MBq), upper large intestine (ULI) (0.13 cGy/MBq), lower large intestine (LLI) (0.38 cGy/MBq), bladder (0.12 cGy/MBq), and metastases (37.5 cGy/MBq). CONCLUSIONS: Results of the absorbed dose calculations are comparable with results presented in references for specific clinical cases. Discrepancies in dose values may be effected by the size of metastases and the patient's condition.

Bone Neoplasms↗

The elemental composition of tumors: kerma data for neutrons.

The elemental composition of a variety of tumor samples, including squamous cell lung carcinoma, sarcoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, melanoma, and rectal carcinoma have been measured by combustion analysis. Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen content have been determined. Using the elemental neutron kerma data published in ICRU Report #46 the neutron kerma factors for the various tumor samples have been calculated in the energy range 11 eV to 29 MeV. The average neutron kerma values for all tumor samples are approximately 6%-7% lower than those for average soft tissue in the energy range of interest in fast neutron therapy (energies > 1 MeV).

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Radioisotopes in the treatment of bone metastases.

Systemic radionuclide therapy is gaining popularity in the radiotherapy community and changing the management of painful osseous metastases. This form of therapy has two major advantages: (i) it addresses all sites of involvement; and (ii) selective absorption limits normal tissue dose. As a result, toxicity is reduced and the therapeutic ratio increased. The biokinetics, dosimetry, and clinical experience with these compounds are reviewed. To date, the best studied and most commonly used radionuclide is strontium-89. Large, prospectively randomized clinical trials have demonstrated its efficacy as a first-line therapy or as an adjuvant to external-beam radiotherapy. It is particularly useful when external-beam therapy options have been exhausted, and normal tissue tolerance has been reached. In metastatic prostate cancer, our recent survey suggests the formation of a new paradigm: local field external-beam radiotherapy to the painful index site in combination with prophylactic administration of systemic radionuclides for clinically occult metastases.

Bone and Bones↗

Therapeutic irradiation for patients with an elevated post-prostatectomy prostate specific antigen level.

PURPOSE: This study was initiated to determine the efficacy of post-prostatectomy therapeutic radiation for patients with elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 47 patients received 66 Gy. therapeutic irradiation to the prostate bed for a PSA level greater than 0 ng./ml. postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify prognostic variables. RESULTS: At a median followup of 36 months (range 18 to 48) 83 and 33% of the patients with PSA 2 ng./ml. or less and 2 ng./ml. or greater, respectively, had no evidence of disease (p = 0.001). Pathological stage and a complete biochemical response (PSA less than 0.05 ng./ml.) were also significant prognostic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic irradiation for patients with elevated PSA postoperatively is highly effective. At a median followup of 36 months 64% of the patients remain disease-free.

Actuarial Analysis↗

The experience with neutron irradiation in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

Patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate, defined as those with extraprostatic disease, a Gleason score of 7 or higher, or a PSA of 15 ng/mL or higher, have a significantly worse prognosis with standard external beam radiotherapy. Post-treatment PSA and biopsy data confirm that most patients have residual local disease as a component of failure in most cases. Two randomized trials of neutron irradiation mixed with photon irradiation and neutron irradiation alone compared with standard photon irradiation to a dose of 70 cGy have both confirmed an improvement in the disease-free survival of patients treated with neutron irradiation. The high complication rate in the second study and the limited number of neutron facilities led to a dramatic decline in the utilization of neutrons in prostate cancer. However, at Wayne State University, using a super conducting cyclotron, a number of clinical studies have been performed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of neutron irradiation. Chronic complication rates have been low. Biochemical freedom from relapse rates have been excellent. For patients with a pretreatment PSA <10 ng/mL, 10 to 20 ng/mL or >20 ng/mL, 92%, 85%, and 38% of patients have no evidence of disease at 4 years. Thus, neutron irradiation has been proven to be a safe method of dose intensification that can lead to a significant improvement in the overall outcome of patients with nonmetastatic adenocarcinomas of the prostate.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A rational approach to the treatment of prostate cancer with radiation therapy: lessons for the future.

The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has revealed that radiation therapy cures adenocarcinoma of the prostate less frequently than previously believed. Biologic factors (such as the complex nature of this disease) and technical factors (geographic miss, inadequate dose to the tumor volume) affect the ability of radiation to effectively treat all patients with prostate cancer. To improve treatment outcome, patients with virulent forms of the disease must be identified. The use of prognostic markers (PSA, prostate-specific membrane antigen, prostate-specific antigen doubling time) and genetic markers (12 lipoxygenase, p53, bcl-2, ploidy) may aid in the development of treatments for these patients. Technical modifications have been made to increase the total dose delivered to the prostate and the accuracy of dose delivery. Brachytherapy, proton therapy and conformal radiation therapy have been used to increase the relative integral dose. Improved prostate targeting may be achieved with the use of fiducial markers, on-line portal imaging, and endorectal magnetic resonance imaging. High linear energy transfer radiation, radiosensitizers and altered fractionation have been used in an attempt to increase the biologic equivalent dose to the tumor. Lastly, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy have been shown to decrease tumor burden and improve local control. All of these methods may improve outcome in patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. However, further work must be completed to translate these methods into standards of care.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

12(S)-HETE increases the motility of prostate tumor cells through selective activation of PKC alpha.

Prostate carcinoma has become the second most fatal cancer in American men. In rat Dunning prostate adenocarcinoma cells, increased cellular motility has been associated positively with their increased metastatic potential. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for regulation of tumor cell motility is poorly understood. We have reported that a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HETE] augments tumor cell metastatic potential through activation of protein kinase C (PKC). We report here that 12(S)-HETE increased the motility of AT2.1 cells and this 12(S)-HETE increased motility was inhibited by PKC inhibitor calphostin C. Western blot analysis revealed that AT2.1 cells expressed the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoform alpha and Ca(2+)-independent PKC isoform delta. Pretreatment of cells with a Ca2+ chelator BAPTA blocked the 12(S)-HETE increased motility. Further, the motility of AT2.1 cells was increased in a dose dependent manner by thymelea toxin, a selective PKC alpha activator. Our data demonstrate that 12(S)-HETE augments the motility of AT2.1 cells via its selective activation of PKC alpha which may serve as a key target for the development of antimetastatic drugs useful for combating prostate cancers.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Human prostate carcinoma cells express functional alphaIIb(beta)3 integrin.

The integrin alphaIIb(beta)3 was initially believed to be expressed only in cells from the megakaryocytic lineage, such as platelets or HEL cells. In this study, we report for the first time that human prostate carcinoma PC-3 and DU-145 cells express alphaIIb(beta)3. Reverse transcription-PCR from HEL (positive control), PC-3, and DU-145 cells amplified a predicted alphaIIb fragment that hybridized to the full-length alphaIIb cDNA probe. DNA sequencing of the PCR fragments revealed 100% sequence homology to the corresponding extracellular domain of platelet alphaIIb but minimal sequence homology to integrins (alpha)v or a5. An RNase protection assay was used to confirm the results from reverse transcription-PCR. An antisense riboprobe to alphaIIb mRNA hybridized to total RNA from HEL, PC-3, and DU-145 cells, suggesting that alphaIIb mRNA is transcribed in these tumor cells. In situ hybridization on surgical specimens from human prostate tumor tissue stained positive with an antisense riboprobe to alphaIIb mRNA. The expression of alphaIIb(beta)3 protein in PC-3 and DU-145 cells was demonstrated by Western and dot blotting and flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to alphaIIb (MAB 1990), beta3, and alphaIIb(beta)3 (AP-2). A protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, increased the adhesion of PC-3 cells to PAC-1, a mAb specific to the high-affinity state of alphaIIb(beta)3, by more than 80-fold. The invasion of DU-145 cells through a reconstituted basement membrane was blocked 40-50% by mAbs AP-2 or PAC-1. These data collectively suggest that: (a) prostate tumor cells express alphaIIb(beta)3; (b) surface expression of alphaIIb(beta)3 integrin is regulated by protein kinase C; and (c) mAbs to this receptor inhibit invasion of prostate cancer cells through a reconstituted basement membrane.

Humans↗

Hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy in locally advanced prostate cancer: results of a dose escalation study.

PURPOSE: This study was initiated to assess the incidence of chronic complications and histologic and biochemical control following hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between October 1991 and October 1994, 49 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer were entered on the first two dose levels of a prospective dose-escalation study using hyperfractionated three dimensional conformal radiotherapy. The first 25 patients received a minimum tumor dose of 78 Gy to the prostate and seminal vesicles in 6 weeks at 1.3 Gy, b.i.d. No increase in chronic toxicity compared with conventional radiotherapy was noted; therefore, an additional 24 patients were treated to a minimum tumor dose of 82.8 Gy to the prostate and seminal vesicles in 7 weeks at 1.15 Gy, b.i.d. Toxicity was scored according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group morbidity grading scale. Efficacy was assessed through scheduled postradiation prostate specific antigen values and ultrasound-guided biopsies. The median follow-up for the entire group was 20 months. RESULTS: The hyperfractionated external radiation was well tolerated with minimal acute morbidity. At 30 months, the actuarial probability of Grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicity was 17%. At 30 months, the actuarial probability of Grade 2 genitourinary toxicity was 16%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two dose levels. No Grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity was noted. At 12 months, 84% of patients had a prostate specific antigen < or = 4; and 53% < or = 1 ng/ml. At 12 months, 71% of patients had post radiation biopsies that were either negative (55% or showed a marked therapeutic effect (16%). CONCLUSION: The use of hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy facilitated dose escalation with no increase in chronic toxicity compared to standard doses. The initial tumor response based on prostate specific antigen measurements and postradiation biopsies is highly encouraging. Based on these results, an increase in dose to 87.4 Gy has been planned according to the schema of this ongoing dose escalation study.

Acid Phosphatase↗