title: The neuropeptide 26RFa is expressed in human prostate cancer and stimulates the neuroendocrine differentiation and the migration of androgeno-independent prostate cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accumulating data suggest that neuropeptides produced by neuroendocrine cells play a crucial role in the progression and aggressiveness of hormone refractory prostate cancer (CaP). In this study, we have investigated the presence and function of the neuropeptide 26RFa in CaP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have localised and quantified tumour cells containing 26RFa and its receptor, GPR103, in CaP sections of various grades. In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effects of 26RFa on the migration, proliferation and neuroendocrine differentiation of the androgeno-independent (AI) prostate cancer cell line DU145.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26RFa and GPR103 are present in carcinomatous foci exhibiting a neuroendocrine differentiation, and the number of 26RFa and GPR103-immunoreactive cancer cells increases with the grade of CaP. 26RFa stimulated the migration of native or transdifferentiated AI DU145 cells, but had no effect on their proliferation. Furthermore, 26RFa induced the neuroendocrine differentiation of DU145 cells as assessed by the occurrence of neurite-like extensions and the increase of the expression of the neuroendocrine marker chromogranin A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicate that 26RFa may participate to the development of CaP at the AI state by promoting the neuroendocrine differentiation and the migration of cancer cells via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: University of Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
authors.forename: Jessy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonzeau
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Lydie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeandel
authors.forename: Maïté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courel
authors.forename: Coralie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hautot
authors.forename: Fatima-Zohra
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: El Yamani
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobet
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leprince
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magoul
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amarti
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Anouar
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chartrel
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055099:Neuroendocrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D009479:Neuropeptides; C476582:QRFPR protein, human; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C480638:prepro-26RFa protein, human