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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
06:48
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
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Androgen-regulated stromal complement component 7 (C7) suppresses prostate cancer growth
Zhicheng Zhou1, Deyong Jia1, Ohjoon Kwon1
1Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Oncogene
|July 3, 2023
Summary
Complement component 7 (C7) in prostate stromal cells is regulated by androgens and suppresses prostate cancer growth. Augmenting complement activity may combat castration resistance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Urology
Background:
- The complement system, part of innate immunity, utilizes the membrane attack complex (MAC) for cytolysis.
- Complement component 7 (C7) is vital for MAC assembly and its expression is critical for MAC's cytolytic function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of C7 in prostate cancer.
- To explore the regulation of C7 by androgen signaling.
- To assess the therapeutic potential of C7 in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Investigated C7 expression in mouse and human prostate stromal cells.
- Analyzed the correlation between C7 levels and clinical outcomes in prostate cancer.
- Examined the regulation of C7 by androgen receptor signaling.
- Assessed the impact of C7 modulation on tumor growth in vivo using allograft and transgenic models.
Main Results:
- C7 is specifically expressed in prostate stromal cells and its expression inversely correlates with prostate cancer outcomes.
- Androgen signaling positively regulates C7 expression, with the androgen receptor directly controlling its transcription.
- Increasing C7 suppressed tumor growth in allograft models, while C7 haploinsufficiency promoted growth in TRAMP mice.
- Restoring C7 in androgen-depleted tumors had limited impact on apoptosis, suggesting tumor counter-mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- C7 expression in prostate stromal cells is androgen-dependent and linked to prostate cancer progression.
- Modulating complement activity via C7 represents a potential strategy against castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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