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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
Endostatin inhibits androgen-independent prostate cancer growth by suppressing nuclear receptor-mediated oxidative
Joo Hyoung Lee1, Minsung Kang2, Hong Wang1
1Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Abstract:
Androgen-deprivation therapy has been identified to induce oxidative stress in prostate cancer (PCa), leading to reactivation of androgen receptor (AR) signaling in a hormone-refractory manner. Thus, antioxidant therapies have gained attention as adjuvants for castration-resistant PCa. Here, we report for the first time that human endostatin (ES) prevents androgen-independent growth phenotype in PCa cells through its molecular targeting of AR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and downstream pro-oxidant signaling. This reversal after ES treatment significantly decreased PCa cell proliferation through down-regulation of GR and up-regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione levels. Proteome and biochemical analyses of ES-treated PCa cells further indicated a significant up-regulation of enzymes in the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging machinery, including catalase, glutathione synthetase, glutathione reductase, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, biliverdin reductase, and thioredoxin reductase, resulting in a concomitant reduction of intracellular ROS. ES further augmented the antioxidant system through up-regulation of glucose influx, the pentose phosphate pathway, and NAD salvaging pathways. This shift in cancer cell redox homeostasis by ES significantly decreased the effect of protumorigenic oxidative machinery on androgen-independent PCa growth, suggesting that ES can suppress GR-induced resistant phenotype upon AR antagonism and that the dual targeting action of ES on AR and GR can be further translated to PCa therapy.-Lee, J. H., Kang, M., Wang, H., Naik, G., Mobley, J. A., Sonpavde, G., Garvey, W. T., Darley-Usmar, V. M., Ponnazhagan, S. Endostatin inhibits androgen-independent prostate cancer growth by suppressing nuclear receptor-mediated oxidative stress.
Insights
Human endostatin (ES) combats prostate cancer (PCa) by targeting androgen receptor (AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting hormone-refractory growth. This antioxidant therapy offers a new strategy for castration-resistant PCa.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer (PCa) induces oxidative stress, promoting hormone-refractory growth via androgen receptor (AR) reactivation.
- Antioxidant therapies are being explored as adjunct treatments for castration-resistant PCa (CRPC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the novel role of human endostatin (ES) in preventing androgen-independent PCa growth.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which ES targets AR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling and oxidative stress pathways in PCa cells.
Main Methods:
- Prostate cancer cell culture and treatment with human endostatin (ES).
- Molecular analyses including proteome and biochemical assays to assess receptor expression, enzyme activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
- Assessment of cell proliferation and redox homeostasis.
Main Results:
- ES treatment prevented androgen-independent PCa cell growth by targeting both AR and GR.
- ES down-regulated GR, up-regulated antioxidant enzymes (e.g., catalase, glutathione reductase), and reduced intracellular ROS levels.
- ES enhanced the cellular antioxidant system by up-regulating glucose influx, the pentose phosphate pathway, and NAD salvaging pathways, shifting redox homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- Human endostatin (ES) suppresses GR-induced resistance in PCa following AR antagonism.
- The dual targeting of AR and GR by ES offers a potential therapeutic strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- ES effectively reduces protumorigenic oxidative stress in androgen-independent PCa.
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