Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

MicroRNA Detection in Prostate Tumors by Quantitative Real-time PCR qPCR
08:30

MicroRNA Detection in Prostate Tumors by Quantitative Real-time PCR qPCR

Published on: May 16, 2012

24.0K

Downregulation of mTOR by lentivirus inhibits prostate cancer cell growth

Yue-Feng Du1, Qing-Zhi Long1, Ying Shi2

  • 1Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
|April 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Targeting the mTOR pathway shows promise for treating prostate cancer. Inhibiting mTOR significantly reduced cancer cell growth and triggered apoptosis, offering a potential new therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Prostate cancer is a lethal urinary system cancer with limited treatment options.
  • The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is implicated in prostate cancer progression, but mTOR's role is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mTOR in prostate cancer.
  • To evaluate mTOR as a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Over-expression of mTOR in prostate cancer tissues and cells was assessed.
  • Lentivirus-mediated mTOR gene knockdown and mTOR inhibition were performed.
  • Protein levels of key signaling molecules and apoptosis markers were analyzed.
  • In vivo efficacy was tested using a mouse xenograft model.

Main Results:

  • mTOR was over-expressed in prostate cancer tissues and cells.
  • mTOR knockdown decreased prostate cancer cell viability and growth without affecting normal cells.
  • mTOR inhibition reduced key proteins (4EBP1, S6K, PI3K, AKT), increased PARP, induced apoptosis, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • mTOR is over-expressed in prostate cancer and contributes to its growth.
  • Targeting mTOR is a potential therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.
  • mTOR inhibition effectively suppresses prostate cancer progression and induces apoptosis.
Keywords:
apoptosismTORprostatic carcinoma

More Related Videos

Virus Delivery of CRISPR Guides to the Murine Prostate for Gene Alteration06:21

Virus Delivery of CRISPR Guides to the Murine Prostate for Gene Alteration

Published on: April 27, 2018

8.3K
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues11:29

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2015

10.3K

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.6K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

1.5K
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.1K
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...
4.0K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
21.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.0K