Genomic alterations in metastatic prostate cancer remain incompletely characterized. Here we analyse 493 prostate cancer cases from the TCGA database and perform whole-genome plasma sequencing on 95 plasma samples derived from 43 patients with metastatic prostate cancer. From these samples, we identify established driver aberrations in a cancer-related gene in nearly all cases (97.7%), including driver gene fusions (TMPRSS2:ERG), driver focal deletions (PTEN, RYBP and SHQ1) and driver amplifications (AR and MYC). In serial plasma analyses, we observe changes in focal amplifications in 40% of cases. The mean time interval between new amplifications was 26.4 weeks (range: 5–52 weeks), suggesting that they represent rapid adaptations to selection pressure. An increase in neuron-specific enolase is accompanied by clonal pattern changes in the tumour genome, most consistent with subclonal diversification of the tumour. Our findings suggest a high plasticity of prostate cancer genomes with newly occurring focal amplifications as a driving force in progression.

No abstract

A full-length cDNA encoding the porcine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (pMCPC-1) was isolated from growth-stimulated porcine cerebral capillary endothelial cells (cEC); the pMCP-1 cDNA showed 89% identity to human MCP-1 and was isolated by use of subtractive hybridization and differential screening of two phenotypically different sub-populations of cloned cEC. pMCP-1 was abundantly expressed in cEC grown in the presence of FCS, ECGF and heparin whereas lower expression was observed in cEC kept in FCS-supplemented medium only. As shown by Northern blot analysis, no pMCP-1 transcripts were present in total RNA derived from freshly isolated brain capillaries, large brain vessels or whole brain homogenate. MCP/JE expression was also demonstrated in ECGF/heparin-treated murine cEC. Astrocytes and smooth muscle cells grown in FCS-supplemented medium did not show MCP-1 expression. Treatment of porcine cEC with TNF-alpha increased pMCP-1 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. These data further support the notion that cerebral capillary endothelial cells actively participate in processes of CNS host defense.

No abstract

Heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is known to be obligatory for long-term endothelial cell cultures; it potentiates the mitogenic activities of endothelial cell growth factors and prolongs the replicative life span of the cells. Here we have shown that besides its growth factor-supportive role, heparin exerts a specific action on cerebral capillary endothelial cells (cECs), unrelated to serum or growth factors, by increasing activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17) in these cells. For our experiments we have used two different types of cloned cECs: type I cECs, grown in the presence of endothelial cell growth factor and heparin, and type II cECs, usually cultivated without growth factors. Heparin action on ODC activity was shown to be dose dependent within the range of 1-100 micrograms/ml. Increasing concentrations of or depletion of endothelial cell growth factor from type I cultures had no effect on ODC activity. The increase in enzyme activity was highest after 30 min to 1 h of heparin treatment. As evidenced by northern analysis, the heparin-mediated enhancement of ODC activity was not accompanied by changes of ODC mRNA levels. Studies of DNA replication revealed that in the absence of heparin-binding growth factors, heparin did not affect the proliferative activity of cloned cECs.