Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4) promotes human prostate cancer metastasis.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. Death from PCa primarily results from metastasis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4) is overexpressed in invasive PCa lesions in humans, and can be inhibited by small molecule therapeutics that demonstrate favorable activity in phase II studies.

Heat shock protein 27 regulates human prostate cancer cell motility and metastatic progression.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common form of cancer in American men. Mortality from PCa is caused by the movement of cancer cells from the primary organ to form metastatic tumors at distant sites. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is known to increase human PCa cell invasion and its overexpression is associated with metastatic disease.

Circulating giant macrophages as a potential biomarker of solid tumors.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) derived from primary tumors are believed to facilitate circulating tumor cell (CTC) seeding of distant metastases, but the mechanisms of these processes are poorly understood. Although many studies have focused on the migration of CTCs, less attention has been given to TAMs that, like CTCs, derive from tumor sites. Using precision microfilters under low-flow conditions, we isolated circulating cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) from the peripheral blood of patients with breast, pancreatic, or prostate cancer.

An orthotopic murine model of human prostate cancer metastasis.

Our laboratory has developed a novel orthotopic implantation model of human prostate cancer (PCa). As PCa death is not due to the primary tumor, but rather the formation of distinct metastasis, the ability to effectively model this progression pre-clinically is of high value. In this model, cells are directly implanted into the ventral lobe of the prostate in Balb/c athymic mice, and allowed to progress for 4-6 weeks.

Effects of seasonality and a diet of brassicas on the shedding of Escherichia coli O157 in sheep.

Sheep flocks were tested for Escherichia coli O157 from pooled fecal samples while they grazed on pasture in winter, brassicas in spring, and on pasture during the summer. The winter pasture study reported an average individual prevalence of 3.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.