Investigating the role of caveolin-2 in prostate cancer cell line

• Main Authors: Jin-Yih Low, Helen D. Nicholson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIMS Press 2017-02-01
• Series: AIMS Molecular Science
• Subjects: caveolae; caveolin-2; migration; invasion
• Online Access: http://www.aimspress.com/Molecular/article/1276/fulltext.html

Prostate cancer is a worldwide problem. While the role of caveolin-1 has been extensively studied, little is known about the role of caveolin-2 (CAV2) in prostate cancer. Up-regulation of CAV2 in androgen independent PC3 cells compared to normal prostate cell line and androgen dependent prostate cancer cell lines has been observed. Recent studies suggest that up-regulation of CAV2 plays an important role in androgen independent prostate cancer. This study investigates whether <em>CAV2</em> is important in mediating the aggressive phenotypes seen in androgen independent prostate cancer cells. The androgen independent prostate cancer cell line, PC3 was used that has been shown to express CAV2, and <em>CAV2</em> knock down was performed using siRNA system. Changes to cell number, migration and invasion were assessed after knocking down <em>CAV2</em>. Our results showed that down-regulating CAV2 resulted in reduced cell numbers, migration and invasion in PC3 cells. This preliminary study suggests that <em>CAV2</em> may act to promote malignant behavior in an androgen independent prostate cancer cell line. Further studies are required to fully elucidate the role of <em>CAV2</em> in androgen independent prostate cancer.