| IDENTIFICATION
OF A PUTATIVE TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR IN PROSTATE CANCER.
Dr Tahereh Kamalati Imperial College London, Department of Oncology |
 |
Background:
The majority of prostate tumours arise from prostate epithelial cells.
We have developed "tools" for studying the cell surface
of human prostate epithelial cells in order to better understand
prostate cancer development and progression, with specific view to
development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. One of
our "tools" detects a protein present in abundance on the
cell surface of normal prostate epithelial cells. Importantly, this
protein is lost from the cell surface of prostate cancer cells. Our
results indicate that our "tool" is detecting a protein
whose loss causes cancer. This type of protein is called Tumour Suppressor.
We propose to identify this tumour suppressor by virtue of the fact
that our "tool" can react with it directly. Once we have
identified the tumour suppressor, we aim to examine how loss of this
tumour suppressor helps prostate cancer cell growth, tumour formation
and metastasis. Ultimately, we aim to develop our "tool" as
a new diagnostic for prostate cancer.
Aim:
The "tools" we have generated are called "antibodies".
The reason we have made antibodies as tools is that antibodies are naturally
occurring proteins, which are made by the human body as a part of its
defence system. We have already established that the target for our
antibody is not one of the known prostate cell surface proteins previously
reported. Because we have an antibody that binds the tumour suppressor
directly and strongly, as the first step in our investigations, we aim
to use our antibody to extract the tumour suppressor from the surface
of the cells. Once we have purified the tumour suppressor, we aim to
examine its chemical composition and determine its identity. Additionally,
we aim to establish the tissue distribution of this tumour suppressor
in normal human organs as well as tumours arising from organs other
than prostate.
How long it will take?
Our proposed investigation will take one year.
What are the expected outcomes?
The expected result from this proposal is the identification of a novel
tumour suppressor in prostate cancer together with elucidations of its
tissue distribution in normal organs and tumours other than prostate.
Collectively, the results generated in this study will facilitate
future genetic engineering studies to establish the functional mechanism
by which this tumour suppressor prevents tumour formation and growth
in human prostate epithelial cells. Ultimately, we aim to use this
antibody in the development of new strategies for prostate cancer
therapy and diagnosis.
How could it make a difference to men's lives?
We have developed a tool, which reacts with a tumour suppressor in human
prostate cancer. This proposal aims to identify the tumour suppressor
and ultimately elucidate its mechanism of action. Hence, the findings
of this project could lead to a better understanding of prostate
cancer development, tumour formation and tumour metastasis. Additionally,
our findings will lead to development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic
approaches for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Research summary, 25 March 2008.
Project 2007/11