Cell growth promoting of the androgen receptor mutation

[Objective] To evaluate the cell growth promoting effects of mutant androgen receptor (mtAR). [Methods] By sing adenovirus expression vectors of: the wild type AR (Ad-wtAR); a widely studied prostate cancer (CaP) associated mtAR (Ad-mtAR, T877A); and the control adenovirus vector (Ad-control), we have evaluated and compared cell biologic effects of wtAR and mtAR. [Results] In comparison to the Ad-wtAR or Ad-control infected LNCaP and PC3 cells, Ad-mtAR (T877A) infected LNCaP and PC3 cells exhibited enhanced cell growth in the presence or absence of synthetic androgen, R1881. Furthermore, Ad-mtAR (T877A) infected LNCaP and PC3 cells showed increased androgen responsiveness to R1881. [Conclusion] These findings provide novel cell biologic insights into effects of the AR mutations in CaP cells and suggest that mtARs with properties of AR (T877A) may provide selective cell growth advantages in the progression of CaP.