AXIN2 expression predicts prostate cancer recurrence and regulates invasion and tumor growth.

Background: Treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) may be improved by identifying biological mechanisms of tumor growth that directly impact clinical disease progression. We investigated whether genes associated with a highly tumorigenic, drug resistant, progenitor phenotype impact PCa biology and recurrence.

Methods: Radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens (±disease recurrence, N = 276) were analyzed by qRT-PCR to quantify expression of genes associated with self-renewal, drug resistance, and tumorigenicity in prior studies.

Expression, purification, and characterization of cysteine-free mouse P-glycoprotein.

Cysteine-free mouse MDR3 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was constructed by mutagenesis of the nine natural Cys to Ala. The Cys-free protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified. Yield, purity, ATPase activity, K(m)(MgATP), and stimulation of ATPase by verapamil, were similar to wild-type mouse Ppg.