UroToday - Androgen withdrawal of LNCaP cells resulted in the establishment of the LNCaP-19 androgen-independent (AI) subline. Dr. Jennbacken and investigators from Goteborg University, Sweden studied the molecular and cellular changes of the LNCaP-19 line to find properties that differ from LNCaP parental cells and that are associated with its AI phenotype. Their report appears in the online version of The Prostate.

Unlike LNCaP parental cells, LNCaP-19 grew in soft agar, an assay that demonstrates androgen and anchorage independent growth. This assay correlates with in vivo tumorgenicity. While LNCaP cells are not very migratory, LNCaP-19 cells were significantly more so in both androgen containing and androgen depleted conditions. The adhesion of LNCaP-19 cells to vitronectin and fibronectin was found to be higher. The cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin had decreased expression in LNCaP-19 cells, consistent with increased metastatic potential. The integrin subunit ?2 was increase in LNCaP-19 tumors grown in mice, but not in the cultured cell lines.

The metalloproteinase MMP-9, but not MMP-2 was found to be higher in LNCaP-19 cells. LNCaP-19 cells were more effective in penetrating into blood vessels, had a greater proliferative index and lower apoptotic index. All these molecular and cellular differences between the parental LNCaP cells and the LNCaP-19 AI subtype are consistent with properties of invasion, metastasis and AI. The derived LNCaP-19 subtype makes a good model for tumor studies on the AI progression of prostate cancer.

Karin Jennbacken, Heléne Gustavsson, Karin Welén, Christina Vallbo, Jan-Erik Damber Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
The Prostate 66(15):1631-1640
Reviewed by UroToday Contributing Editor: Christopher P. Evans, MD

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