Transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 promotes growth of human prostate cancer cells in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a/b (Stat5a/b) is the key mediator of prolactin effects in prostate cancer cells via activation of Janus-activated kinase 2. Prolactin is a locally produced growth factor in human prostate cancer. Prolactin protein expression and constitutive activation of Stat5a/b are associated with high histologic grade of clinical prostate cancer. Moreover, activation of Stat5a/b in primary prostate cancer predicts early disease recurrence. Here, we inhibited Stat5a/b by several different methodologic approaches. Our goal was to establish a proof of principle that Stat5a/b is critical for prostate cancer cell viability in vitro and for prostate tumor growth in vivo.


METHODS
We inhibited Stat5a/b protein expression by antisense oligonucleotides or RNA interference and transcriptional activity of Stat5a/b by adenoviral expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Stat5a/b in prostate cancer cells in culture. Moreover, Stat5a/b activity was suppressed in human prostate cancer xenograft tumors in nude mice. Stat5a/b regulation of Bcl-X(L) and cyclin D1 protein levels was shown by antisense suppression of Stat5a/b protein expression followed by Western blotting.


CONCLUSIONS
We show here that inhibition of Stat5a/b by antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, or adenoviral expression of dominant-negative Stat5a/b effectively kills prostate cancer cells. Moreover, we show that Stat5a/b is critical for human prostate cancer xenograft growth in nude mice. The effects of Stat5a/b on the viability of prostate cancer cells involve Stat5a/b regulation of Bcl-X(L) and cyclin D1 protein levels but not the expression or activation of Stat3. This work establishes Stat5a/b as a therapeutic target protein for prostate cancer. Pharmacologic inhibition of Stat5a/b in prostate cancer can be achieved by small-molecule inhibitors of transactivation, dimerization, or DNA binding of Stat5a/b.
Dagvadorj
Ayush
A
Department of Cancer Biology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Kirken
Robert A
RA
Leiby
Benjamin
B
Karras
James
J
Nevalainen
Marja T
MT
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival; D056741:Cyclin D; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; D056741:Cyclin D; D016213:Cyclins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D051020:bcl-X Protein