LNCaP

LNCaP is a human prostate cancer cell line. It is one of the most commonly used cell lines in prostate cancer research and has been instrumental in many key findings in this field.

History

The LNCaP cell line was first established in 1977 from a lymph node metastasis of a 50-year-old Caucasian male with confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma. The name "LNCaP" is an acronym derived from the patient's initials and the site of the metastasis (Lymph Node Cancer of the Prostate).

Characteristics

LNCaP cells are unique among prostate cancer cell lines in that they are androgen-sensitive, meaning they respond to the male hormone androgen. This makes them a valuable tool for studying the role of hormones in prostate cancer. They also express the androgen receptor, which is a key player in the development and progression of prostate cancer.

LNCaP cells are also known for their ability to form tumors when injected into immunodeficient mice, a property that is used in xenograft studies to investigate the behavior of prostate cancer in vivo.

Use in Research

LNCaP cells have been used in a wide range of research studies, including those investigating the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer, the effects of various drugs and treatments, and the role of genetic and environmental factors in the disease's development and progression.

One of the key findings from research using LNCaP cells is the discovery of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion, which is present in approximately half of all prostate cancers and is believed to play a critical role in the disease's development.

Limitations

While LNCaP cells have been invaluable in prostate cancer research, they do have some limitations. For example, they do not fully represent the heterogeneity of prostate cancer, as they are derived from a single patient and are androgen-sensitive, whereas many prostate cancers are androgen-independent. They also do not metastasize in the same way as prostate cancer in patients, limiting their usefulness in studying this aspect of the disease.

See Also

• Prostate cancer
• Cell line
• Androgen receptor
• Xenograft
• TMPRSS2-ERG