Researchers find new kind of prostate SC in mice

New Type Of Adult Stem Cells Found In Prostate May Be Involved In Cancer Development, ScienceDaily, September 10, 2009. Excerpts:

The new study may resolve this conundrum because the newly discovered adult stem cells are also luminal cells. "Previous research suggested that prostate cancer originates from basal stem cells, and that during cancer formation these cells differentiate into luminal cells," said Dr. Shen. "Instead, CARNs may represent a luminal origin for prostate cancer" [CARNs stands for "castration-resistant Nkx3.1-expressing cells"].

And indeed, the researchers found that CARNs in mice can give rise to prostate cancers, after the cells lose the activity of PTEN, a gene that is frequently mutated in human prostate cancers.

See also: New Progenitor Cell in Mice Can Cause Prostate Cancer, Michael Smith, Medpage Today, September 9, 2009; Researchers find prostate cancer stem cell, Reuters, September 9, 2009.

These news items are about the publication: A luminal epithelial stem cell that is a cell of origin for prostate cancer by Xi Wang and 9 co-authors, including Michael M Shen, Nature 2009(Sep 9) [Epub ahead of print][PubMed Citation].

Comment: These CSCs were found in mice, and "it is unclear whether CARNs exist in the normal human prostate and if human prostate cancers can originate from these CARNs" (see last paragraph of the Medpage Today article).

Found via: Two Studies Make Promising Advances in Prostate Cancer Research, Denis Cummings, FindingDulcinea, September 10, 2009.