hTERT-immortalized prostate epithelial and stromal-derived cells: an authentic in vitro model for differentiation and carcinogenesis

Cancer Res. 2006 Apr 1;66(7):3531-40. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2183.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men, and there is no available cure for patients with advanced disease. In vitro model systems are urgently required to permit the study of human prostate cell differentiation and malignant transformation. Unfortunately, human prostate cells are particularly difficult to convert into continuously growing cultures. We report here the successful immortalization without viral oncogenes of prostate epithelial cells and, for the first time, prostate stromal cells. These cells exhibit a significant pattern of authentic prostate-specific features. In particular, the epithelial cell culture is able to differentiate into glandular buds that closely resemble the structures formed by primary prostate epithelial cells. The stromal cells have typical characteristics of prostate smooth muscle cells. These immortalized cultures may serve as a unique experimental platform to permit several research directions, including the study of cell-cell interactions in an authentic prostate microenvironment, prostate cell differentiation, and most significantly, the complex multistep process leading to prostate cell transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / biosynthesis
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostate / cytology*
  • Prostate / metabolism*
  • Prostate / physiology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / physiology
  • Telomerase / biosynthesis
  • Telomerase / genetics
  • Telomerase / physiology*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Telomerase