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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
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Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples
Published on: March 14, 2014
Cell adhesion molecule CD44: its functional roles in prostate cancer
1Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Science Center Aurora, CO, USA.
American Journal of Translational Research
|December 9, 2010
Summary
CD44 standard (CD44s) re-expression inhibits prostate cancer growth and invasion in vitro. CD44 variant 7-10 (CD44v7-10) knockdown sensitizes cells to chemotherapy, suggesting CD44s as gene therapy and CD44v7-10 as a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- CD44 is a cell adhesion glycoprotein involved in cell signaling.
- Dysregulated CD44 expression, specifically loss of CD44 standard (CD44s) and overexpression of CD44 variant 7-10 (CD44v7-10), is characteristic of prostate cancer (PCa).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional significance of CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 variant 7-10 (CD44v7-10) in prostate cancer (PCa).
- To evaluate CD44's potential as a therapeutic target for PCa, including gene therapy and chemosensitization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized retroviral gene delivery to express CD44s or knockdown CD44v7-10 in PC-3M PCa cells.
- Assessed invasion, migration, proliferation, colony formation, adhesion, docetaxel sensitivity, and xenograft growth.
- Investigated effects of silibinin and phenyl-methylene hydantoins (PMH) on CD44 expression and activity.
- Studied the role of microRNAs miR-373 and miR-520c in CD44 regulation.
Main Results:
- Re-expression of CD44s (separate or fusion protein) reduced PCa invasion and migration in vitro.
- CD44v7-10 knockdown significantly sensitized PCa cells to docetaxel.
- Silibinin and PMH decreased CD44 expression and inhibited PCa cell invasion.
- MicroRNAs miR-373 and miR-520c suppress CD44 by inhibiting translation, not RNA degradation.
Conclusions:
- Stable re-expression of CD44s shows potential for gene therapy in PCa by reducing in vitro growth and invasion.
- CD44v7-10 serves as a target for chemosensitization, and nutraceuticals may abrogate tumor development.
- Further in vivo studies using orthotopic or renal capsule xenografts are needed to confirm CD44 alteration effects in a different stromal microenvironment.
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