Inhibition of Chemokine CCL7 or Receptor CCR3 of Same for the Treatment and Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Abstract

The invention concerns an inhibitor of the expression of chemokine CCL7 or an inhibitor of the expression of the receptor CCR3 or an inhibitor of CCL7/CCR3 interaction for the use of same to prevent or treat the extension of prostate cancer outside the prostatic capsule in a subject. The invention also concerns a method for determining the degree of aggressiveness of a prostate cancer tumour in a subject suffering from prostate cancer, comprising a step of determining the concentration or level of expression of the receptor CCR3 in a sample of prostate tumour cells obtained from said subject.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An ex vivo method for determining the degree of aggressiveness of a prostate cancer tumor in a human subject suffering from prostate cancer, or for determining the risk of biological recurrence of prostate cancer in a subject, comprising the following steps:
 (a) determining the concentration or level of expression of the chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) in a sample of prostate tumor cells obtained from said subject,   (b) comparing the concentration or level of expression of the CCR3 determined in step (a) with the reference concentration or level of expression of the CCR3 in healthy prostate epithelium,   wherein a concentration or a level of expression of CCR3, in said sample of prostate tumor cells from said subject, greater than said reference concentration or level of expression is an indication of an aggressive prostate cancer tumor with a high extraprostatic dissemination potential or of a risk of biological recurrence of prostate cancer.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the measurement of the concentration of CCR3 in a sample of prostate cells and/or of prostate epithelium cells is performed by immunoassay comprising a specific antibody for CCR3. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said human subject is an adult male who is obese and/or has abundant PPAT (periprostatic adipose tissue). 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating extension of prostate cancer outside the prostatic capsule in a human subject comprising administering to the human subject any of:
 (a) an inhibitor of CCL7/CCR3 interaction selected from the group consisting of an organic molecule, a peptide, an antibody against CCR3 or CCL7, a peptidomimetic recognizing CCR3 or CCL7, and an aptamer recognizing CCL7 or CCR3,   (b) an inhibitor of CCR3 receptor expression targeting the gene encoding CCL7 or the gene encoding CCR3 selected from the group consisting of an antisense oligonucleotide, interfering RNA, small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and a ribozyme.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the CCR3 inhibitor is an CCR3 antagonist. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the organic molecule is a compound selected from any of group consisting of compounds having formulas I to DCCLXXXIV. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the organic molecule is a compound having the formula DLI.