Zinc, Metallothionein and Prostate Tumour Cells - Is There Any Relation?

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Authors

GUMULEC Jaromír CERNEI Natalia Vladimirovna ZÍTKA Ondřej MASAŘÍK Michal BABULA Petr ADAM Vojtěch KIZEK René

Year of publication 2010
Type Conference abstract
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Description Prostate cells are unique in zinc metabolism, because they have the ability to accumulate high levels of these ions. In contrast, prostate cancer cells lack this ability. Metallothioneins (MT) are proteins rich in cysteine. They can bind metals including zinc. Recent studies indicate to elevated serum levels of MTin patients suffering from prostate cancer. Moreover, elevated serum levels of MT are highly specific for prostate cancer and can be potentially used as a new marker of this disease. This could be very desirable because of inaccuracies of current prostatic specific antigen (PSA) screening. The aims of this study is (1) to determine MT levels in patient's serum and cell lines PC-3 and 22RVL and compare to PSA levels, (2) to determine expression of zinc transporters in cell lines and find relations between MT and intracellular zinc levels, (3) to describe potential effects of MT and/or zinc on prostate cancer pathogenesis.
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