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Growth/differentiation factor-15: prostate cancer suppressor or promoter?

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 15, pages 320–328 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Deregulation of expression and function of cytokines belonging to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family is often associated with various pathologies. For example, this cytokine family has been considered a promising target for cancer therapy. However, the detailed functions of several cytokines from the TGF-β family that could have a role in cancer progression and therapy remain unclear. One of these molecules is growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a divergent member of the TGF-β family. This stress-induced cytokine has been proposed to possess immunomodulatory functions and its high expression is often associated with cancer progression, including prostate cancer (PCa). However, studies clearly demonstrating the mechanisms for signal transduction and functions in cell interaction, cancer progression and therapy are still lacking. New GDF-15 roles have recently been identified for modulating osteoclast differentiation and for therapy for PCa bone metastases. Moreover, GDF-15 is as an abundant cytokine in seminal plasma with immunosuppressive properties. We discuss studies that focus on the regulation of GDF-15 expression and its role in tissue homeostasis, repair and the immune response with an emphasis on the role in PCa development.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants IGA MZD 9600-4/2008 and IGA MZD 9956-4/2008, Grant number MSM0021622430 from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and by the project FNUSA-ICRC (no. CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0123) from the European Regional Development Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

    P Vaňhara & A Hampl

  2. Centre of Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, International Clinical Research Center, St Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

    A Hampl & K Souček

  3. Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic

    A Kozubík & K Souček

  4. Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

    A Kozubík

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  1. P Vaňhara
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Correspondence to K Souček.

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Vaňhara, P., Hampl, A., Kozubík, A. et al. Growth/differentiation factor-15: prostate cancer suppressor or promoter?. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 15, 320–328 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2012.6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2012.6

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