Brandon Sutton
South Carolina State University, USA
Title: The reduction of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) in South Carolinian men
Biography
Biography: Brandon Sutton
Abstract
Prostate cancer affects African American (AA) men disproportionately in the US, but even more so in the state of South Carolina, with three times higher mortality rates for AA men when compared to European American (EA) men. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are proteins or lipids that become highly glycated as a result of exposure to sugars. AGEs are found in the foods we eat such chargrilled foods and fried foods. Among PCa patients, AGE accumulation is higher in blacks with African ancestry (AAs) than in European Americans (EAs). AGEs are linked to many chronic diseases, protein damage, aberrant cell signaling, increased stress responses and decreased genetic fidelity. They are formed as a result of making poor lifestyle choices such as; lack of exercise, poor diet, obesity, etc. Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer can also contribute to these processes associated with AGE accumulation, poor clinical outcomes and reduced health-related quality of life. This study had two different objectives. One being to limit AGE accumulation by testing possible agents such as chitosan which reduces serum AGE levels in advanced cancer patients. The other objective is to define the impact of AGE’s on promoting a more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype through the upregulation of miR-204, MYC and the downregulation of the androgen receptor. The methods used in these experiments are DNA Stool extraction, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and In Situ Hybridization (ISH). Standardization of the protocols has been established. Collection of samples and analysis is ongoing and results will be presented in the closing ceremony.