title: bcl-2 expression confers androgen independence in androgen sensitive prostatic carcinoma.
abstract: Expression of the bcl-2 proto-oncogene is associated with the progression of prostate cancer to androgen-independence. Dunning R3327G (DG) cells were engineered to express high levels of bcl-2 protein. The parental DG (DG-P) cell line and bcl-2 transfectant (DG-B) clones were grown as subcutaneous tumor explants in male athymic nude mice. The rate of tumor growth after castration was significantly lower in DG-P tumors but was unaffected in DG-B tumors. The proliferative indices (PI) in DG-P and DG-B tumors were similar, however, apoptotic indices (ApI) were significantly lower in DG-B tumors before castration. Following castration the PI and ApI decreased significantly in DG-P but not DG-B tumors. Bax upregulation was not observed in the DG-P or DG-B tumors, but did occur in the ventral prostate, after castration. These findings support a role for bcl-2 expression in conferring androgen-independent growth during prostate cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: UNIV TEXAS, MD ANDERSON CANCER CTR, DEPT MOL PATHOL, HOUSTON, TX 77030 USA. UNIV TEXAS, MD ANDERSON CANCER CTR, DEPT MED ONCOL, HOUSTON, TX 77030 USA. UNIV TEXAS, MD ANDERSON CANCER CTR, DEPT UROL, HOUSTON, TX 77030 USA.
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authors.lastname: Westin
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authors.lastname: Lo
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authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: A
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authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarkiss
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authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: S
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authors.lastname: Brisbay
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authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voneschenbach
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDonnell