MEK4 Aids in the Invasion of Human Prostate Cancer Cells

by Rajashri on  July 30, 2009 at 9:39 PM Cancer News
  •   Print
  •   Share
  •   Comments
  •  Text 
 MEK4 Aids in the Invasion of Human Prostate Cancer Cells
A new study published online July 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has identified MEK4 as a pro-invasion protein and the target for genistein, a dietary compound, in prostate cancer cells.

Li Xu, M.D., Ph.D., and Raymond C. Bergan, M.D., of the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues investigated the target for genistein in prostate cancer cells by assessing cell invasion and gene and protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 (MEK4) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which is associated with cell invasion.

Overexpression of MEK4 increased MMP-2 expression and cell invasion in prostate cancer cells; decreased MEK4 expression had the opposite effect. Computer modeling showed that genistein could bind to the active site of MEK4, and an enzymatic assay showed that genistein inhibited MEK4 kinase activity. The MMP-2 transcript level was statistically significantly higher in normal prostate epithelial cells, which are target cells for chemoprevention, from untreated patients with prostate cancer than from genistein-treated patients.

"Thus, we have shown that it is possible to target motility-associated processes with genistein in patients with prostate cancer, have identified MEK4 as the therapeutic target for genistein in all six prostate cell lines examined, and have provided a possible mechanism to link high dietary consumption of genistein-containing foods with lower rates of prostate cancer metastasis and mortality," the authors write.



Source-Eurekalert
RAS

 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions
  
If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
X

Medwonders Health Network

  • Health News Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
Quiz on Cancer
Looking for information on cancer? Go through medindia's Cancer quiz.
  • News Quick Links
News Central Health Watch
Latest Health News Health In Focus
News Category (500+) Breaking Health News
Popular News Celebrating Life
Health News and Press Release Medindia - Exclusive
News Photo Gallery India Special
News Video Gallery Lifestyle and Wellness
News From Other Resources
Prostate Cancer
Complete Medindia Resources
News Categories:  
Teen's Health Center

Cancer Related News

» Cardio-Pulmonary Function can be a Strong Indicator for Survival Chances of Breast Cancer Patients » Post Surgery Will the Tumour Return? New Breast Cancer Test to Predict Exactly
» Scientists Develop Compound That Triggers Cancer Cell Death » Iraqi National Hopes to Find Affordable Treatment for His Cancer in India
» New Technique can Help Doctors Detect Pancreatic Cancer » Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors Probed
» Breast MRI 'Better Than Clinical Approach for Predicting Chemotherapy's Efficiency' » No Need for PSA-Based Screening for Prostate Cancer: Task Force
Read More >>