Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

An Orthotopic Bladder Tumor Model and the Evaluation of Intravesical saRNA Treatment
08:43

An Orthotopic Bladder Tumor Model and the Evaluation of Intravesical saRNA Treatment

Published on: July 28, 2012

Androgen receptor is a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer

Ji-Tao Wu1, Bang-Min Han, Sheng-Qiang Yu

  • 1Department of Urology, First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Urology
|January 20, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Targeting the androgen receptor (AR) significantly inhibits bladder cancer growth by reducing proliferation and increasing apoptosis. This suggests AR is a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bladder cancer remains a significant health concern with limited targeted therapies.
  • The androgen receptor (AR) plays a role in various cancers, but its specific role in bladder cancer requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the androgen receptor (AR) can be a viable molecular target for treating bladder cancer.
  • To investigate the effects of AR downregulation on bladder cancer cell behavior and tumor growth.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized human transitional carcinoma cell lines (T24 and 253-J) treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting AR.
  • Assessed cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration in vitro.
  • Quantified expression of growth and metastasis-related genes using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
  • Evaluated tumor growth and apoptosis in vivo using T24 tumor-bearing nude mice treated with electroporation-assisted anti-AR siRNA.

Main Results:

  • AR expression knockdown led to increased apoptosis, reduced proliferation, and inhibited migration of bladder cancer cells.
  • Silencing AR decreased the expression of Cyclin D1, Bcl-x(L), and matrix metallopeptidase-9.
  • In vivo studies demonstrated that AR silencing significantly suppressed tumor growth, decreased proliferation, and increased apoptosis in AR-positive bladder tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Downregulation of AR expression effectively inhibits bladder cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.
  • These findings indicate that the androgen receptor (AR) is a promising therapeutic target for bladder cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies07:48

An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies

Published on: December 1, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of ɑ-Receptor Blockers01:22

Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of ɑ-Receptor Blockers

α-Adrenergic antagonists, known as α-blockers, exert their effects by inhibiting α-adrenoceptors, leading to specific physiological actions. α1-blockers and α2-blockers have distinct pharmacological actions and therapeutic applications.
α1-blockers: These drugs inhibit α1-adrenoceptors on smooth muscle cells, resulting in vasodilation. This vasodilation lowers blood pressure, making α1-blockers valuable in treating hypertension. Additionally, α1-blockers effectively address urinary obstruction...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...