Aptamers as Theragnostic Tools in Prostate Cancer.

Despite of the capacity that several drugs have for specific inhibition of the androgen receptor (AR), in most cases, PCa progresses to an androgen-independent stage. In this context, the development of new targeted therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) has remained as a challenge. To overcome this issue, new tools, based on nucleic acids technology, have been developed.

Hormone-Related Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases: A Complex Interplay to be Discovered.

Neoplasic transformation is a continuous process that occurs in the body. Even before clinical signs, the immune system is capable of recognizing these aberrant cells and reacting to suppress them. However, transformed cells acquire the ability to evade innate and adaptive immune defenses through the secretion of molecules that inhibit immune effector functions, resulting in tumor progression.

Inhibition of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase by Sterculic Oil Reduces Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common type of cancer affecting male population. PCa treatments have side effects and are temporarily effective, so new therapeutic options are being investigated. Due to the high demand of energy for cell proliferation, an increase in the expression and activity of lipogenic enzymes such as the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) have been observed in PCa.

New Approaches in Oncology for Repositioning Drugs: The Case of PDE5 Inhibitor Sildenafil.

The use of already-approved drugs to treat new or alternative diseases has proved to be beneficial in medicine, because it reduces both drug development costs and timelines. Most drugs can be used to treat different illnesses, due their mechanisms of action are not restricted to one molecular target, organ or illness. Diverging from its original intent offers an opportunity to repurpose previously approved drugs to treat other ailments.

Cell-Internalization SELEX of RNA Aptamers as a Starting Point for Prostate Cancer Research.

In the treatment of cancer, over the last decade different drugs delivery systems have been developed to increase therapeutic specificity to improve drug's efficacy, and safety by increasing bioavailability. Among these systems, small nucleic acid molecules with a three-dimensional structure, known as aptamers, have shown several advantages. Several approaches to design aptamers require modifications from starting libraries of DNA sequences.

Prostate Cancer Spheroids: A Three-Dimensional Model for Studying Tumor Heterogeneity.

Prostate cancer is one of the main causes of cancer and the sixth cause of death among men worldwide. One of the major challenges in prostate cancer research is cell heterogeneity defined as the different genomic and phenotypic characteristics in each individual cell making more difficult to assess the proper prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy. Tumor 3D spatial arrangement allow a strong interaction between the different cellular lineages and components which modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and morphology.

SFRP1 increases TMPRSS2-ERG expression promoting neoplastic features in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second cause of cancer related death in North American men. Androgens play an important role in its progression by regulating the expression of several genes including fusion ones that results from structural chromosome rearrangements. - is a fusion gene commonly observed in over 50% of PCa tumors, and its expression can be transcriptionally regulated by the androgen receptor (AR) given its androgen responsive elements.

Anthocyanins of Blue Corn and Tortilla Arrest Cell Cycle and Induce Apoptosis on Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells.

Breast and prostate cancer are frequently diagnosed neoplasias in women and men around the world. The signaling of the androgen receptor (AR) influences the development of both tumors. Since therapies focused to block the receptor's activity have not been fully effective, and have shown side effects, therapies based on natural compounds are promissory complementary alternatives in its treatment.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of blue corn and tortilla from native maize.

Background: Blue corn is a cereal rich in phenolic compounds used to make blue tortillas. Tortillas are an important part of the Mexican diet. Blue corn and tortilla represent an important source of the natural antioxidants anthocyanins.