Progressive dysregulation of transcription factors NF-kappa B and STAT1 in prostate cancer cells causes proangiogenic production of CXC chemokines.

The CXC chemokine family includes members that possess angiogenic and angiostatic properties. Angiogenic CXC chemokines are produced by prostate cancer cells and contribute to prostate tumor growth. Production of angiostatic CXC chemokines by prostatic cells has not been previously studied. Here we show that normal prostate epithelial (PZ-HPV-7) cells produce low amounts of angiogenic CXC chemokines, whereas prostate cancer cells from primary (CA-HPV-10) and metastatic (PC-3) tumors produce progressively greater amounts. These effects were caused by progressive increases in activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B in prostate cancer cells. Conversely, PZ-HPV-7 cells produced relatively high levels of angiostatic CXC chemokines, whereas CA-HPV-10 and PC-3 cells produced stepwise lower amounts. These effects were dependent on reduced activation of signal transduction and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in prostate cancer cells. These data suggest that there is progressive dysregulation of nuclear factor-kappa B and STAT1 in prostate cancer cells that leads to proangiogenic production of CXC chemokines.