Oncology
Biomedical Research in Urology
Joan Morote Robles
Researchers Rosanna Paciucci Barzanti, Mireia Olivan Riera, Carlos Fernández Sáez, Inés de Torres, Jacques Planas, Carles Raventós, Anna Celma, José Placer, Marta Allué, Carlos Salvador, Jorge Ropero, Fernando Lozano, Juan María Bastarós | Researchers in training Verónica Cánovas Hernández, Ana Matres | Nursing, technical and administrative staff Yolanda Puñal Ostos, Elisabet Olivan Riera
Summary
We discovered the oncogenic actions of the PTOV1 gene in metastatic dissemination of prostate cancer (PC) (1,2). We showed its implication in multiple processes controlling cell fate (1,2). The past year we confirmed its role in inducing self-renewal potential of prostate cancer stem cells (CSC) and resistance to treatments (docetaxel). We found a significant repressor activity of PTOV1 on the expression of p53 in vitro and in tumors. We have started to grow and characterize CSC derived from patients with metastatic PC to identify more efficient targets to eradicate tumour resistance.
Furthermore, a transcriptomic profile has been identified as a prognosis biomarker that differentiated early from indolent HGPIN cases and those that will transform into actual PC. Applying statistical models, we estimated that 33% to 47% of repeat biopsies could be prevented with a multiplex PCR model, representing an easy applicable and significant advantage over the current gold standard in urine sediment. In addition, our group demonstrated that Proliferative Inflammatory Atrophy (PIA), present in one third of prostate biopsies, is associated to lower risk of PC detection. Tumours accompanying PIA seem to be less aggressive and have a greater probability of being insignificant.