A Study to Investigate the Role of Noncoding RNA miR146 Alpha as a Potential Biomarker in Prostate Cancer.

There is a need for additional biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. MicroRNAs are a class of non-protein coding RNA molecules that are frequently dysregulated in different cancers including prostate cancer and show promise as diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapy. Here we describe the role of micro RNA 146 a (miR-146a) which may serve as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer, as indicated from the data presented in this report. Also, a pilot study indicated differential expression of miR-146a in prostate cancer cell lines and tissues from different racial groups. This report provides a novel insight into understanding the prostate carcinogenesis.

Epigenetic approaches in glioblastoma multiforme and their implication in screening and diagnosis.

Epigenetic modifications have been reported in a number of non-germ-line tumor types. Epigenetic modifications to the genome, especially DNA methylation and histone modifications, affect gene expression causing increased risk for cancers and other diseases. We have summarized information about DNA methylation percentages in Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) line HTB-12, alveolar cell carcinoma, and acute lymphocytic leukemia samples and determined H3 (K27) methyltransferase activity in GBM and leukemia cells and made comparisons to H3 (K27) methyltransferase activity in normal astrocyte, lung, and lymphocyte cells. GBM and alveolar cell carcinoma gDNA possessed lower gDNA methylation percentages compared to normal cells. Methyl-sensitive cut counting analysis (MSCC) showed fold decreases in GBM CpG methylation sites for genes PBK, KIF23, COL6A3, and LOX. There was no significant difference in CpG DNA methylation, but less histone methyltransferase activity in acute lymphocytic leukemia compared to normal cells. GBM possessed increased histone methyltransferase activity compared to normal samples. Challenges in the field in diagnosis and prognosis for cancer risk especially with regard to the results of this work are discussed.

Identification of death receptors DR4 and DR5 in HTB-12 astrocytoma cell lines and determination of TRAIL sensitivity.

Astrocytomas are tumors which arise from astrocytes, cells that form the blood-brain barrier. There are very few drugs that successfully treat brain tumors. In this study, the cytotoxic effects on the HTB-12 astrocytoma cell line by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were studied. The presence of the TRAIL receptors, Death receptor 4 (DR4) and Death receptor 5 (DR5), were detected in HTB-12 cells by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Cytotoxicity assay by Trypan Blue Exclusion Method showed effective cell killing by TRAIL treatment. Thus, the presence of death receptors and TRAIL efficacy raises the therapeutic potential for this type of brain tumor.