A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Follicle-stimulating hormone promotes growth of human prostate cancer cell line-derived tumor xenografts
Authors: Oduwole Olayiwola O, Poliandri Ariel, Okolo Anthony, Rawson Phil, Doroszko Milena, Chrusciel Marcin, Rahman Nafis A, de Almeida Gilberto Serrano, Bevan Charlotte L, Koechling Wolfgang, Huhtaniemi Ilpo T
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2021
Journal: FASEB Journal
Journal name in source: FASEB JOURNAL
Journal acronym: FASEB J
Article number: ARTN e21464
Volume: 35
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 0892-6638
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202002168RR
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202002168RR
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/Publication/54804873
Chemical castration in prostate cancer can be achieved with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists. Their effects differ by the initial flare of gonadotropin and testosterone secretion with agonists and the immediate pituitary-testicular suppression by antagonists. While both suppress luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) initially, a rebound in FSH levels occurs during agonist treatment. This rebound is potentially harmful, taken the expression of FSH receptors (R) in prostate cancer tissue. We herein assessed the role of FSH in promoting the growth of androgen-independent (PC-3, DU145) and androgen-dependent (VCaP) human prostate cancer cell line xenografts in nude mice. Gonadotropins were suppressed with the GnRH antagonist degarelix, and effects of add-back human recombinant FSH were assessed on tumor growth. All tumors expressed GnRHR and FSHR, and degarelix treatment suppressed their growth. FSH supplementation reversed the degarelix-evoked suppression of PC-3 tumors, both in preventive (degarelix and FSH treatment started upon cell inoculation) and therapeutic (treatments initiated 3 weeks after cell inoculation) setting. A less marked, though significant FSH effect occurred in DU145, but not in VCaP xenografts. FSHR expression in the xenografts supports direct FSH stimulation of tumor growth. Testosterone supplementation, to maintain the VCaP xenografts, apparently masked the FSH effect on their growth. Treatment with the LH analogue hCG did not affect PC-3 tumor growth despite their expression of luteinizing hormone/choriongonadotropin receptor. In conclusion, FSH, but not LH, may directly stimulate the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer, suggesting that persistent FSH suppression upon GnRH antagonist treatment offers a therapeutic advantage over agonist.
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