| INHIBITION OF THE MALIGNANT PROGRESSION OF PROSTATE CANCER CELLS BY SUPPRESSING THE EXPRESSION OF THE OSTEOPONTIN GENE .
Professor Youqiang Ke University of Liverpool |
Osteopontin (OPN) is a gene involved in promoting tumour growth and the malignant dissemination of cancer cells in several different organs but it is not clear if it plays any role in the malignant progression of prostate cancer. The researchers have already shown that OPN expression is increased in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, the degree of expression of the gene correlates with the “nastiness” of the cancer. These results have suggested that OPN might be important in predicting the future behaviour of prostate cancers.
The proposed research will be laboratory based and will investigate the biological significance of elevated OPN. The science is complex but uses a new technique called RNA interference (RNAi) to block OPN expression by prostate cancer cells. The effect of this suppressed expression of the OPN gene on the invasiveness and ability to spread of cancer cells will be systematically analysed.
Research proposal summary dated 19 May 2006
Project 2005/05