Expression of Prostate-Specific Genes (STAMP1/STEAP2) in the Early Stages of Prostate Cancer

This chapter focused on prostate-specific genes expressed in the early stages of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer diagnosis made in men and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic at the early stage and often has an indolent course that may require only active surveillance. Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic at the early stage and often has an indolent course, and may require minimal or even no treatment. However, the most frequent complaint is difficulty with urination, increased frequency, and nocturia, all symptoms that may also arise from prostatic hypertrophy. The effects of androgens are mediated by the androgen receptor (AR). Therefore, studies focus on identification of AR regulated genes that are also highly expressed in the prostate. STAMP family genes STAMP1/STEAP2 [1] and STAMP2/STEAP4 [2] are only expressed in androgen receptor positive cells, the role of AR in STAMP family gene expression is an important question. Apart from the prostate, STAMP1 is found in the heart, brain, pancreas, ovary, skeleton, muscle, mammary gland, testis, uterus, kidney, lung, trachea, and liver. RT-PCR was used to assess an apoptosis panel encompassing pro-apoptotic and/or apoptotic chemicals in LNCaP cells expressing STAMP genes per se. The proliferation activities of STAMP1 appear to be linked to the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway. Although the STAMP1/STEAP2 gene promoter region lacks androgen receptor response element (ARRE), the second found STAMP2/STEAP4 gene does have ARRE, as demonstrated by ChIP.