Novel RNA- or Antibody-Based Strategies Targeting. Growth Factors in Prostate Cancer

摘要

RNA- or antibody-based strategies may provide novel strategies for inhibiting the expression of specific gene products that may be involved in prostate cancer cell growth and progression. Prostate cancer cells could escape hormonal control by constitutively expressing growth factors such as insulin- like growth factors (IGFs). This proposal is to test the hypothesis that IGF-II/ IGF receptor signaling plays an important role in prostate cancer growth and progression. To prove the hypothesis, our newly constructed IGF-II ribozymes and single-chain antibodies against the IGF-I receptor (alpha IGFIR scFvs) are being used. Specific Aim 1 is to test our hypothesis using already available PC-3 prostate cancer cell transfectants and control cells. Effects of intracellular expression of IGF-II ribozyme or alpha IGFIR scFv on cell growth, anticancer- drug induced apoptosis, and tumorigenesis will be investigated in cell culture and in athymic mice. Specific Aim 2 is to take alternative approaches towards testing our hypothesis and developing novel gene and/or immunotherapy approaches for prostate cancer treatment. RNA- or antibody-based strategies targeting growth factors in prostate cancer have never been evaluated. The proposed studies should thus lay the foundation for the development of novel strategies for prostate cancer treatment.