Compositions and methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing prostate conditions

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions and methods for diagnosing, preventing, and treating prostate cancer and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for preventing or treating prostate cancer in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising an inhibitor of PAX2 gene expression or PAX2 activity,   wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of selective antagonists of angiotensin II, selective antagonists of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), selective antagonists of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), selective antagonists of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), selective antagonists of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and/or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), and selective antagonists of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3).   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is diagnosed with prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of angiotensin II. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of AT1. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of MEK. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of ERK1 and/or ERK2. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of STAT3. 
     
     
         17 . A method for preventing or treating prostate cancer in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a selective antagonist of PAX2.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selective antagonist of PAX2 blocks the binding of PAX 2 to the beta defensin-1 (DEFB1) promoter. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selective antagonist of PAX2 comprises an antisense RNA. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selective antagonist of PAX2 comprises an polynucleotide encoding an antisense RNA. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selective antagonist of PAX2 comprises an anti-PAX2 antibody. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is diagnosed with prostate cancer. 
     
     
         25 . A method for preventing or treating prostate cancer in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that enhances the level of DEFB1 gene expression or DEFB1 activity.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the agent comprises DEFB1. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the agent comprises a polynucleotide encoding and capable of expressing DEFB1. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the agent comprises an inhibitor of PAX2 binding to DEFB1 promotor. 
     
     
         29 . A method for preventing or treating PIN in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject a composition comprising an inhibitor of PAX 2 expression or activity,   wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of selective antagonists of angiotensin II, selective antagonists of ACE, selective antagonists of AT1R, selective antagonists of MEK, selective antagonists of ERK1 and/or ERK2, and selective antagonists of STAT 3.   
     
     
         30 . A method for preventing or treating PIN-in a subject, comprising: administering to the subject a composition comprising an inhibitor of PAX 2 expression or activity,
 wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of selective antagonists of PAX2, and inhibitors that block the binding of PAX2 to DEFB1 promoter.   
     
     
         31 . A method for preventing or treating PIN in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that enhances the level of DEFB1 gene expression or DEFB1 activity.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of DEFB1, polynucleotides encoding and capable of expressing DEFB1, and inhibitors of PAX2 binding to DEFB1 promotor. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inhibitor is a selective antagonist of ACE.