Hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha: effect on radiation sensitivity and differential regulation by an mTOR inhibitor.

Objective: To determine the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF2alpha) on the sensitivity of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines to ionizing radiation and to determine if the mTOR antagonist, rapamycin, could decrease HIF2alpha protein levels.

Materials And Methods: Cell lines expressing stable short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) encoding HIF2alpha shRNAs or an empty vector were transfected with a hypoxia responsive element (HRE)-driven firefly luciferase reporter gene. Two separate paired cell lines were assayed for their response to increasing doses of ionizing radiation.

Minimal effect of a low-fat/high soy diet for asymptomatic, hormonally naive prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: The effects of a low-fat diet or a low-fat diet with the addition of a soy supplement were investigated in a pilot Phase II study for asymptomatic, hormonally naive prostate cancer patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Experimental Design: A two-step intervention was implemented. During step 1 patients were begun on a low-fat diet with a goal to reduce fat intake to 15% of total daily calories.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 binding proteins after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: Elevated serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) have been consistently shown to be a risk factor for prostate cancer. Alterations in serum IGF-1 binding proteins 1 to 3 have also been associated with prostate cancer risk. A potentially important complication in these studies is that prostate tissue, perhaps especially malignant prostate tissue, may secrete IGF-1 and its binding proteins into serum.