ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression and significance of signal pathway Wnt/β-catenin in prostate cancer stem cells.Methods Prostate cancer tissues,hyperplasia prostate tissues and normal prostate tissues were collected,then prostate cancer stem cells were selected from cell suspension in the culture system of serum-free medium by magnetic activated cell sorting system.Immunohistochemical SP test,RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to test the expression of Wnt and β-Catenin mRNA or protein in prostate cancer stem cells,hyperplasia prostate tissues and normal prostate tissues.Results The protein expression of Wnt and β-Catenin was higher in prostate cancer tissues compared with that in hyperplasia prostate tissues and normal prostate tissues;mRNA expression of Wnt and β-Catenin was higher in prostate cancer stem cells (4.57±0.83,3.93±0.78) than in hyperplasia prostate tissues (1.32±0.35,1.48±0.44) and normal prostate tissues (1.00±0.12,1.00±0.11),and the difference was statistically significant (F＝13.287,12.648,P＝0.000).Protein expression of Wnt and β-Catenin was higher in prostate cancer stem cells(0.87±0.10,1.12±0.23) than in hyperplasia prostate tissues(0.39±0.08,0.64±±0.11) and normal prostate tissues (0.33±0.09,0.45±0.10),and the difference was statistically significant (F＝16.625,14.417,P＝0.000).Conclusion Signal pathway Wnt/β-catenin is stimulated abnormally in prostate cancer stem cells,causing the occurrence of prostate cancer,providing a new research direction for treatment of prostate cancer.
ABSTRACT
Objective To modify polyargine (PLR) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and to observe the effect of PEG modilication on PLR cytotoxicity and efticiency of PLR-mediated RNA interference. Methods1 HNMR was used to characterize PLR-PEG and gel electrophoresis was adopted to determine the siRNA-packing capacity of PLR-PEG. The cytotoxicity of PLR-PEG, cellular uptake and RNA interference efficiency of PLR-PEG/siRNA complexes were investigated using prostate cancer stem-like cells(RC-92a/hTERT). Results1 HNMR results showed the successful synthesis of PLR-PEG. It was found that PEG modiiication decreased cytotoxicity of PLR and reduced cellular uptake of PLR/siRNA complexes, but the reduction of cellular uptake was limited when N/P was high. The modiiication also inhibited the efticiency of PLR-mediated RNA interference, but the influence of PEG moditication was not notable within a certain range. Conclusion PEG-moditied PLR may be a promising vector for gene therapy targeting prostate cancer stem cells.
ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in males. Endocrine therapy is currently the main treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Although this therapy frequently results in tumor shrinkage, it is not curative, and the majority of patients eventually develop hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Recent studies suggested that prostate cancer stem cells serve a key function in the occurrence, development, and metastasis of prostate cancer. Therefore, targeted therapy of prostate cancer stem cells may be effective for the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer stem cell markers must be identified to facilitate studies on prostate cancer radical treatment schemes, especially the specific markers of this disease. Previous research on prostate cancer stem cell markers mainly focus on CD44 and CD133. Along with in-depth studies, a substantial number of new markers have been found with research development. This review summarizes the widely studied and recently discovered markers found in the field of prostate cancer stem cells.