# EFFECTS OF PROSTATE CANCER ON SKELETAL TISSUE

> **NIH NIH R01** · MCGILL UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $55,326

## Abstract

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate exhibits a marked propensity to
metastasize to the skeleton, where it commonly produces
osteoblastic rather than osteolytic lesions.  Such lesions appear to
be due to increased osteoblast numbers and activity.  We have
identified apparently unique growth factors for cells of the
osteoblast phenotype in freshly isolated human prostatic cancer as
well as in benign prostatic hyperplasia.  Similar activity was
present in normal pre-pubertal but not post-pubertal prostate
suggesting androgen dependence.  Migogenic acivity was
demonstrabel in fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts and in osteoblast-
derived osteosarcoma cells, but not in fetal rat skin fibroblasta.
Mitogens enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblast-like
cells.  The proposed studies are directed at completing the
chemical characterization of the peptides by cloning and
sequencing cDNAs encoding the prostatic factors.  Sites of non-
prostatic tissue production will be determined in human and rat
tissues by Northern analysis of extracted poly A + mRNA and by
in situ hybridization.  Regulation of gene expression by gonadal
steroids will be examined in cell cultures of normal, hyperplastic
and neoplastic human prostatic tissue and, if appropriate, in
transplantable rat models of prostatic adenocarcinoma.  The
specificity of the mitogenic effects for osteoblasts will be
explored in detail and the influences of the factors on other
parameters of osteoblasts function (synthesis of type I collagen
and production of osteocalcin) will be determined.  Monoclonal
and polyclonal antibodies will be generated for immunoblotting,
immunoneutralization and radioimmunassay studies and in vivo
receptor binding studies will be performed to localize cellular
skeletal and non-skeletal sites of action.  The studies therefore
seek to examine the mechanisms whereby metastatic prostatic
adenocarcinoma alters skeletal function and aim to
characterization growth factors derived from gonadal steroid-
dependent tissues, which may mediate effects on the skeleton.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174814
- **Project number:** 2R01CA037126-04
- **Recipient organization:** MCGILL UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** VJ62F6V2LE48
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID GOLTZMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $55,326
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-09-30 → 1990-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174814

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174814, EFFECTS OF PROSTATE CANCER ON SKELETAL TISSUE (2R01CA037126-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174814. Licensed CC0.

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