Predicting Bone Metastatic Potential of Prostate Cancer via Computational Modeling of TGF-Beta Signaling; Final rept. 30 Oct 2005-29 Apr 2008

摘要

This hypothesis generation project involved the development of a computational model of the TGF-beta signaling pathway and investigating whether such a model can be used to generate hypotheses regarding metastatic potential of prostate cancer (PCa). The primary deliverable of the investigation is a comprehensive quantitative model of TGF-beta signaling that is representative of a wide variety of experimental data collected in different labs worldwide; the primary outcome is the following set of related conclusions: (i) it is possible to use such a model to predict metastatic potential of PCa,; but (ii) to do so appropriately requires a deeper quantitative understanding of the role of TGF- as a regulator of prostate gland function; and in this regard, (iii) that the primary role of TGF- as a tumor suppressor may still be intact so that the observed over-expression in poor prognosis PCa patients is due to changes in the PCa cells and not in the ligand.