Prostasomes are secreted from poorly differentiated cells of prostate cancer metastases
G Sahlén, A Ahlander, A Frost, G Ronquist… - The …, 2004 - Wiley Online Library
G Sahlén, A Ahlander, A Frost, G Ronquist, BJ Norlén, BO Nilsson
The Prostate, 2004•Wiley Online LibraryAbstract BACKGROUND Prostasomes are small (40–500 nm), granule‐like bodies, found in
normal epithelial cells of the prostate and secreted into the prostate duct system. Also poorly
differentiated prostate cancer cells are producing prostasomes, since we could isolate and
purify prostasomes from vertebral metastases with biochemical methods. To find out whether
these prostasomes are secreted into extracellular sites of the metastases, we used electron
microscopy. METHODS Small biopsies from vertebral metastases of prostate cancer, taken …
normal epithelial cells of the prostate and secreted into the prostate duct system. Also poorly
differentiated prostate cancer cells are producing prostasomes, since we could isolate and
purify prostasomes from vertebral metastases with biochemical methods. To find out whether
these prostasomes are secreted into extracellular sites of the metastases, we used electron
microscopy. METHODS Small biopsies from vertebral metastases of prostate cancer, taken …
BACKGROUND
Prostasomes are small (40–500 nm), granule‐like bodies, found in normal epithelial cells of the prostate and secreted into the prostate duct system. Also poorly differentiated prostate cancer cells are producing prostasomes, since we could isolate and purify prostasomes from vertebral metastases with biochemical methods. To find out whether these prostasomes are secreted into extracellular sites of the metastases, we used electron microscopy.
METHODS
Small biopsies from vertebral metastases of prostate cancer, taken directly from the operating field at surgery, were immediately fixated, embedded in plastic and processed for electron microscopy.
RESULTS
We found that prostasomes could be identified extracellularly in the interstitial tissues as well as in the cytoplasm of the metastatic cells.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that prostasomes produced by the cells of vertebral metastases of prostate cancer are distributed both intracellularly and extracellularly in the interstitial spaces of the tissue. Thus, prostasomes of metastases could perhaps be exploited as targets for immunodiagnosis and/or immunotherapy. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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