Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers among men, can be relatively harmless or extremely aggressive. The most widely used biomarker for the disease, the PSA test, is not independently diagnostic or prognostic of prostate cancer. One of the main challenges of prostate cancer research is to find reliable and effective prognostic biomarkers that will predict cancer recurrence following surgery, in order to identify clinically significant prostate cancer and improve management of the disease. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as master regulators of cellular processes, and dysregulated miRNAs have been associated with cancer development and progression. The intent of my PhD research program was to uncover novel miRNAs that contribute to prostate cancer pathogenesis in order to assess their potential as predictors of clinical progression. By analyzing a large cohort of primary prostate cancer samples, we have discovered that microRNA-221 (miR-221) is associated with metastasis and biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer, and is downregulated in TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene- positive tumors. In addition, we have determined that microRNA-182 (miR-182) is overexpressed in prostate cancer and is associated with increased metastasis and clinical progression by targeting a tumors suppressor Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1). Overall, this work introduces novel candidate miRNA genes and downstream targets that are aberrantly expressed in more aggressive prostate cancer, and presents a potentially significant role for miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers that are associated with clinical progression, and perhaps aids in defining how miRNAs might one day serve as anti-cancer therapeutic agents.

Estrogens maintain the appropriate androgen-estrogen balance for normal regulation of the structure and function of the male reproductive tract, including the prostate gland. This research investigated viability of cells and expression of selected genes in prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3) exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like substance present in a number of plastic materials. PC-3 cells are able to metabolize BPA at concentrations below 100 µM. BPA exposure at concentrations between 1nM and 100 µM does not increase or significantly reduce cell viability of these cells. Although the genes investigated in this study (GSTP1 and MGMT) did not show a significant change in expression following in vitro exposure to BPA, the positive control ethinyl estradiol (EE2) caused an increase in GSTP1 expression at mRNA level. These results indicate that BPA does not affect the viability of prostate cells, and motivate a need for further research to identify other genes that could be affected by BPA.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-135). / Microfiche. / xv, 135 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

This thesis looks at developing an immunotherapy strategy for prostate cancer patients.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "August, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-143). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2001. / Adviser: Shuk-mei Ho. Submitted to the Dept. of Biology. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-196). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (Ph. D. in Cancer Biology)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2008. / Principal faculty advisor: Robert A. Sikes, Dept. of Biological Sciences. Includes bibliographical references.