To understand alterations to the urokinase system that may occur in progressively metastatic prostate cancer cells, we assessed urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression, in vitro motility towards vitronectin, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-induced growth and growth factor regulation of uPAR expression in three cell lines--PC-3 and two derivatives from secondary metastases, PC-3M and PC-3MM2. DU-145 and Tsu-Pr1 cells were included for comparative purposes. uPAR expression increases with metastatic passage in these cell lines and accompanies increased growth and motility responses in the presence of uPA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims And Background: Matrigel (MG) basement membrane is commonly used for in vitro studies of cellular migration, invasion and angiogenesis. It contains structural molecules such as collagen IV and laminin plus several growth factors which are diminished in growth factor-reduced Matrigel (GFR-MG). A less appreciated but important aspect of MG is the presence of matrix enzymes and their inhibitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe carotenoid lycopene, found in tomatoes, has been associated with decreasing prostate cancer risk. Potential mechanisms for this risk reduction include lycopene's status as a potent antioxidant, its inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, and its ability to increase intercellular gap junctional communication. Presently, in the United States, almost 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and approximately 30,000 succumb to its metastatic effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although prostate cancer metastasis is usually assumed to originate from the prostate gland itself, metastatic-derived human cell lines readily metastasize in vivo suggesting that metastases may metastasize. To determine if this additional selection produces changes in the expression of metastasis-associated characteristics, we compared PC-3 cells with two PC-3 derivatives from progressive cycles of re-metastasis.
Materials And Methods: MMPs, TIMPs, plasminogen activators and PAI-1 as well as growth rate and adhesion to fibronectin were assessed.