REDISTRIBUTION OF ANDROGEN RECEPTORS IN ACQUIRED HORMONE-REFRACTORY PROSTATE CANCER CELLS

Author: Yu D. S.   Hsieh D. S.   Chang S. Y.  

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

ISSN: 1521-0375

Source: Archives of Andrology, Vol.52, Iss.5, 2006-09, pp. : 389-395

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Abstract

The dynamic translocation of androgen receptors (ARs) in prostate cancer cells after hormone conversion was studied. The prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was converted into androgen-independent sublines after long-term treatment with 5α-reductase inhibitor and steroid-depleted medium. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescent staining and laser scanning microscopy were used to observe the redistribution and serial translocation of ARs in these tumor cells. The androgen-independent tumor cells (LNCaP/Fin and LNCaP/HR) grew slower than native cells with fibroblastic-like characteristics. On immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent double staining, translocation and exocytosis of ARs were noted in androgen- independent tumor cells much more markedly than in native cells. Furthermore, laser-scanning microscopy revealed serial image changes of AR vesicle shifting and exocytosis in androgen-converted tumor cells. Translocation and exocytosis processes were observed in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. ARs lose partly normal cellular biologic role during hormone manipulation.