Role of androgens and the androgen receptor in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Androgens are functionally required for the normal growth of the prostate gland and in prostate tumor development and progression. Epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is an important process during normal development and in cancer cell metastasis induced by factors within the microenvironment, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). This study examined the ability of androgens to influence EMT of prostate cancer epithelial cells. The EMT pattern was evaluated on the basis of expression of the epithelial markers E-cadherin/beta-catenin, and the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, as well as cytoskeleton reorganization in response to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 1 nM) and/or TGF-beta (5 ng/ml). Overexpressing and silencing approaches to regulate androgen receptor (AR) express

SUBMITTER: Zhu ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2830130 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature