A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

FGF-8b induces growth and rich vascularization in an orthotopic PC-3 model of prostate cancer




AuthorsValta MP, Tuomela J, Vuorikoski H, Loponen N, Väänänen RM, Pettersson K, Väänänen HK, Härkönen PL

Publication year2009

JournalJournal of Cellular Biochemistry

Journal name in sourceJournal of cellular biochemistry

Journal acronymJ Cell Biochem

Volume107

Issue4

First page 769

Last page84

Number of pages16

ISSN0730-2312

eISSN1097-4644

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.22175


Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8) is expressed at an increased level in a high proportion of prostate cancers and it is associated with a poor prognosis of the disease. Our aim was to study the effects of FGF-8b on proliferation of PC-3 prostate cancer cells and growth of PC-3 tumors, and to identify FGF-8b-associated molecular targets. Expression of ectopic FGF-8b in PC-3 cells caused a 1.5-fold increase in cell proliferation in vitro and a four- to fivefold increase in the size of subcutaneous and orthotopic prostate tumors in nude mice. Tumors expressing FGF-8b showed a characteristic morphology with a very rich network of capillaries. This was associated with increased spread of the cancer cells to the lungs as measured by RT-qPCR of FGF-8b mRNA. Microarray analyses revealed significantly altered, up- and downregulated, genes in PC-3 cell cultures (169 genes) and in orthotopic PC-3 tumors (61 genes). IPA network analysis of the upregulated genes showed the strongest association with development, cell proliferation (CRIP1, SHC1), angiogenesis (CCL2, DDAH2), bone metastasis (SPP1), cell-to-cell signaling and energy production, and the downregulated genes associated with differentiation (DKK-1, VDR) and cell death (CYCS). The changes in gene expression were confirmed by RT-qPCR. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that FGF-8b increases the growth and angiogenesis of orthotopic prostate tumors. The associated gene expression signature suggests potential mediators for FGF-8b actions on prostate cancer progression and metastasis.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:54