Methylation and inactivation of estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors in prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer development is initially steroid hormone dependent. Estrogen receptors (ERs), androgen receptors (ARs), and progesterone receptors (PRs) have been identified in normal and cancerous prostate tissues. We investigated whether the promoter regions of these steroid receptor genes are methylated and inactivated in prostate cancer cells and tissues.

DNA methylation regulates the expression of Y chromosome specific genes in prostate cancer.

Purpose: We hypothesized that DNA methylation regulates the differential expression of Y chromosome specific genes in prostate cancer. To test this hypothesis we analyzed the expression of Y chromosome specific genes in 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-azaC) treated and untreated prostate cancer cell lines.

Materials And Methods: To test this hypothesis Y chromosome specific genes were analyzed in prostate cancer cells treated with the demethylation agent 5-azaC.