Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Georgi V Petkov
University of South Carolina
USA
Keynote: BK channels as non-genomic targets for oestrogens and potential novel molecular targets for the treatment of overactive bladder
Time : 09:35-10:15
Biography:
Georgi V Petkov is a Tenured Professor of Pharmacology at the University of South Carolina. His studies have helped to identify new pharmacological targets for drugs targeting urinary bladder dysfunction. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Journal of Physiology (London), American Journal of Physiology, Journal of Urology. He serves as Editor and Reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Urology. He has given many invited seminars worldwide and received various academic honors and awards at national and international level.
Abstract:
Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a significant medical problem affecting ~17% of the population at an annual cost of over $65 billion in the United States alone. Current OAB therapies are limited in efficacy and relief. Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed especially those that directly target detrusor smooth muscle (DSM). This is important because many forms of OAB are associated with increased DSM contractions during bladder filling and urinary storage which is normally facilitated by DSM relaxation. Recent studies from Dr Petkov’s laboratory at the University of South Carolina indicate that in human DSM, the large conductance voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels are critical regulators of DSM myogenic and neurogenic contractions. BK channel function in DSM is to control Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels which in turn determine the degree of DSM contractility. New data from the Petkov’s laboratory reveal that oestrogens can directly activate BK channels in human DSM cells thus reducing DSM excitability and contractility. Initial experiments by the Petkov laboratory show that oestrogens reduce spontaneous phasic contractions of human DSM isolated strips in a concentration-dependent manner which involves a direct interaction of oestrogens with BK channels independent of oestrogen receptors as demonstrated in excised membrane patches. Modulation of BK channel activity or their regulatory mechanisms by oestrogens may provide the basis for developing new therapeutic interventions for OAB. To facilitate such novel approaches we need to have a better understanding of BK channels regulation by oestrogens.
Keynote Forum
Rosanna Paciucci
Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research
Spain
Keynote: Prostate tumor overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) is an oncogenic protein promoting prostate cancer progression: Its implications in the chemotherapy resistance
Time : 10:15-10:55
Biography:
Rosanna Paciucci has completed her PhD from New York University Medical School, NY, USA and postdoctoral studies from University of Cantabria, Spain and\\\\r\\\\nlater on at the Institut Municipal d’Investigacio Medica (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain. She is group leader of the Biomedical Research group in Urology at Vall d’Hebron\\\\r\\\\nInstitut of Research, Barcelona, Spain. She has published more than 25 papers in high impact factor journals and has two patents. The major focus of her research is directed to understanding the biology of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Abstract:
Prostate Cancer (PC) is the most common male malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Approximately 85% of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases are localized to the prostate whereas the remainders are invasive or metastatic disease. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer responds initially to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), however progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) occurs in the majority of patients. In CRPC patients’ docetaxel improves survival and it is considered a standard first-line therapy. Unfortunately most patients at his stage of progression develop strong resistant tumors. Several mechanisms of resistance to docetaxel have been described although in general the resistant phenotype is still poorly understood. Therefore, further studies in CRPC are needed to improve current therapies. Accumulating evidences suggest that Prostate tumor overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) protein acts as oncogenic driver in PC. PTOV1 is strongly expressed in prostate carcinoma and expressed at low levels in the benign prostate epithelium. High levels of expression of PTOV1 in prostate tumors and other neoplasias (colorectal, renal, bladder, ovarian cancer) are significantly associated with their proliferative status and with high grade malignant tumors. Our aim is to elucidate the mechanisms by which PTOV1 modulates PC progression and its possible implication in the acquisition of resistance to treatments. We have shown that in CRPC cells PTOV1 interacts with the receptor of activated protein kinase C (RACK1) and ribosomes and modulate protein synthesis. In these cells, PTOV1 promotes selective translation of mRNAs including the oncogene c-Jun and the cancer stem cell protein SNAIL1 inducing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition, in vivo experiments carried out in SCID-beige mice inoculated subcutaneously with CRPC PC3 cells knocked down for PTOV1 supported the role of PTOV1 in tumorigenesis and metastatic spreading. In CRPC Du145 and PC3 cells the ectopic overexpression of PTOV1 confers resistance to Docetaxel. Interestingly, Docetaxel Resistant (DR) cell lines showed higher levels of endogenous PTOV1 compared to control cells and the depletion of PTOV1 in these cells induces a G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Together, these results unveil new functions of PTOV1 in the regulation of protein translation and in the progression of prostate cancer to an invasive and metastatic disease.