High level expression of the cell surface adhesion molecule CD44 standard form and its splice variants, have been causally linked to tumor metastasis. In this study, we investigated the significance of CD44 expression in human prostatic carcinoma cells. Immunocytochemistry showed high level expression of CD44 in cells from a high grade prostate tumor, and two androgen-independent, invasive prostatic carcinoma lines, PC-3 and TSU-Pr1. Normal prostatic epithelial cells and LNCaP, a low metastatic, androgen sensitive cell line, expressed none to a very low level of CD44, although mRNA transcripts were detected in all cell lines. Immunoprecipitation detected two proteins of M(r) approximately 140 kDa and 210 kDa in PC-3, and predominantly the M(r) approximately 95 kDa protein in TSU Pr1, but none in LNCaP. Most importantly, a neutralizing antibody to CD44 inhibited cell proliferation and basement membrane invasive activity, suggesting a definitive role of CD44 in prostate tumor growth and metastasis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of radiation response of prostatic carcinoma by taxol: therapeutic potential for late-stage malignancy.

Radiation therapy for advanced prostate cancer has dose-limiting complications and often results in limited tumor control. A combination of radiation and taxol, a potential radiation sensitizer, may enhance therapeutic efficacy at currently used individual doses. Human prostatic carcinoma lines in vitro, and Dunning rat prostatic adenocarcinoma in vivo, were treated with taxol and radiation individually, and in combination. Cytotoxicity of taxol was comparable between androgen sensitive and insensitive lines, with 50% growth inhibition at 9.6 to 12.7 nM. Combining agents increased cytotoxicity, with a dose modifying ratio of 1.8 at 0.1% survival. Flow cytometry showed an enhancement of radiation toxicity associated with taxol-induced cell cycle phase arrest at G2/M. Injection of taxol (4 mg/kg/day x 5), radiation dose fractionation (1.5 Gy/day x 5) and their combination significantly delayed Dunning tumor growth. Adverse side effects were minimal. The results imply that combination of these agents may have clinical potential in prostate cancer treatment.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of radiation response of prostatic carcinoma by lonidamine.

Potential application of lonidamine (LND) to enhance radiation toxicity in prostate cancer was investigated using human prostate cancer cell lines and a rat tumor model (Dunning MAT LyLu). LND alone was cytotoxic with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) between 0.5 and 0.8 mM. Preincubation with LND increased clonogenic toxicity of radiation. The sensitizer enhancement ratio was 1.8 to 2.2, depending on the cell line tested and it was consistent with inhibition of repair from potentially lethal damage. LND had limited effect in vivo on the Dunning model, consistent with its in vitro effect on the same cell line. LND did not alter the primary growth of the tumor. Fractionated irradiation caused a 40% decrease in tumor growth. LND injection (50 mg/kg) before fractionation did not cause any further decrease in tumor growth. Radiation dose fractionation and the combination treatment significantly reduced tumor metastasis in lungs.

Animals↗