PROSTATE CARCINOMA--INVASION AND METASTASIS FACTORS

We have focused the combined experiences and techniques of pathology,
cell biology and molecular biology on the problem of prostate
carcinogenesis. Using human tissue specimens, prostate cell lines, and
normal and transfected cell lines injected experimentally into
immunodeficient mice, we will explore the roles of the extracellular
matrix proteins, cytoskeleton, the plasma membrane associated integrins,
and the multigene family of metalloproteinases and their tissue specific
inhibitors. The long term goal of the research is to define the critical
events responsible for prostatic carcinoma dissemination so that criteria
might be defined to allow accurate identification of the biologically
more aggressive tumors. The benefit of this research would be: 1) an
increased understanding of the basic biology of neoplastic invasion, 2) a
more rational approach to selection of therapy, and 3) the discovery of
new approaches aimed at preventing invasion.