The isolation and characterization of epithelial cells from canine prostate

Background. Prostate cancer causes approximately 40,000 deaths in the Unite d States annually (1,2). Adenocarcinoma of the prostate occurs primarily in two species: human and dog (3,4). Although less common in dogs, the etiolo gic factors responsible for spontaneous canine prostate cancer are presumab ly the same as for humans. Given the similar etiology and epidemiology of t he disease among the two species, a model of canine prostate epithelial cel ls would be a powerful tool to study the disease. Methods. Prostate epithel ial cells were isolated from a sexually intact adult beagle, and primary cu ltures established. Epithelial clones were immortalized by transfection wit h the Simian Virus 40 large T-antigen cDNA. Cells were characterized using immunohistochemical techniques. Results. The immortal prostate epithelial c ell line expresses cytokeratin-18, and prostatic acid phosphatase, markers specific for prostate epithelial cells. K-9PE-I, a stable, fast growing can ine prostate epithelial cell line is available for further study. Conclusio ns. A cell based model of canine prostate epithelium was isolated immortali zed, and characterized The cell line will be available for futher study of prostate disease.