Ol/L Tris-HCl, 0.15 mmol/L NaCl, 1 mole/L EGTA, 1 mol/L EDTA, 20 mmol/L NaF, 100 mmol/L Na3VO4, 0.5 NP-40, 1 Triton X-100, 1 mol/L phenyl methylsulfonyl flouride (pH 7.4)] with protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Roche, Indianapolis, IN). The lysate was collected and stored at 280uC. The protein content in the lysates was measured by BCA protein assay (Pierce, Rockford, IL), as per the vendor’s protocol. For Western blot analysis, 40 mg protein was resolved in 10 SDS-PAGE gels, transferred onto PVDF membranes (Millipore, Bedford, MA) and subsequently incubated in blocking buffer (5 nonfat dry milk/ 1 Tween 20; in 20 mmol/L TBS, pH 7.6) for 2 hours. The blots were incubated with BMI1 primary antibody, washed and incubated with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Sigma, Saint Louise, MO). The blots were detected with chemiluminescence (ECL kit, Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ). Equal loading of protein was confirmed by stripping the blots and reprobing with b-actin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Densitometry measurements of the scanned bands were performed as described earlier [16].Cell LinesCell lines originated from both Caucasian and African American mans were used in our study. Normal and immortalized prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE1), CaP cell lines (LNCaP, C42b, PC3, Du145, VCaP and PCa-2b), prostatic stromal myofibroblasts (WPMY1), colon normal epithelial cells (FHC) and colon cancer cell lines (SW480, HCT116 and HT29) and human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines PANC1 and AsPC1 were obtained from ATCC (Manassas, VA). Normal pancreatic ductal epithelia cells, premalignant Kras mutant Title Loaded From File E6E7-Ras and malignant Kras mutant E6E7-Kras-st cells were obtained from D. Paul M. Campbell (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL) [11]. BPH-1 cells were procured from Dr. Simon Hayward (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) who developed them as described [12]. Establishment and characterization of RC77N/E, RC77T/E and E006 cells was described earlier [13?4]. Cells were grown in appropriate media supplemented with 10 FBS (ATCC, Manassas, VA) and 1 Penicillin-Streptomycin (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) under standard cell culture conditions of 5 CO2 in an incubator at 37uC.Detection of Protein in cell culture mediaCells were allowed to grow up to 80 confluence in complete media. At 80 confluent level, media was discarded and cells were washed with PBS twice. After washing, cells were added with serum-free media. Cells were cultured in serum-free media for 24 h. After 24 h, media was collected and analyzed for BMI1 secretory protein by using Immuno-Slot-blot assay. The Slot-blot assay was performed as per the manufacturers’ 125-65-5 biological activity protocol (Whatman, Florham Park, NJ). Briefly, Slot-blot apparatus was assembled using Whatman filter paper and a pre-wetted nitrocellulose membrane. Next, the apparatus was connected to a vacuum pump. Slots were filled with samples (media/serum) and then drawn by vacuum (unused slots were filled with PBS). The membranes were then blocked for 2 h in blocking buffer (5 nonfat dry milk). The blots were incubated with BMI1 primary antibody, washed and incubated with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Sigma, Saint Louise, MO). The blots were detected with chemiluminescence (ECL kit, Amersham Biosciences).Cell Selection(a) Caucasian Cells: RWPE1 (normal), BPH-1 (non-malignant hyperplasia) and, LNCaP, C4-2B, PC-3, Du145 and VCaP representing Caucasian prostate cancer. WPMYI1 stromal fibroblasts were also used. (b) African American Cells:.Ol/L Tris-HCl, 0.15 mmol/L NaCl, 1 mole/L EGTA, 1 mol/L EDTA, 20 mmol/L NaF, 100 mmol/L Na3VO4, 0.5 NP-40, 1 Triton X-100, 1 mol/L phenyl methylsulfonyl flouride (pH 7.4)] with protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Roche, Indianapolis, IN). The lysate was collected and stored at 280uC. The protein content in the lysates was measured by BCA protein assay (Pierce, Rockford, IL), as per the vendor’s protocol. For Western blot analysis, 40 mg protein was resolved in 10 SDS-PAGE gels, transferred onto PVDF membranes (Millipore, Bedford, MA) and subsequently incubated in blocking buffer (5 nonfat dry milk/ 1 Tween 20; in 20 mmol/L TBS, pH 7.6) for 2 hours. The blots were incubated with BMI1 primary antibody, washed and incubated with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Sigma, Saint Louise, MO). The blots were detected with chemiluminescence (ECL kit, Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ). Equal loading of protein was confirmed by stripping the blots and reprobing with b-actin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Densitometry measurements of the scanned bands were performed as described earlier [16].Cell LinesCell lines originated from both Caucasian and African American mans were used in our study. Normal and immortalized prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE1), CaP cell lines (LNCaP, C42b, PC3, Du145, VCaP and PCa-2b), prostatic stromal myofibroblasts (WPMY1), colon normal epithelial cells (FHC) and colon cancer cell lines (SW480, HCT116 and HT29) and human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines PANC1 and AsPC1 were obtained from ATCC (Manassas, VA). Normal pancreatic ductal epithelia cells, premalignant Kras mutant E6E7-Ras and malignant Kras mutant E6E7-Kras-st cells were obtained from D. Paul M. Campbell (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL) [11]. BPH-1 cells were procured from Dr. Simon Hayward (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) who developed them as described [12]. Establishment and characterization of RC77N/E, RC77T/E and E006 cells was described earlier [13?4]. Cells were grown in appropriate media supplemented with 10 FBS (ATCC, Manassas, VA) and 1 Penicillin-Streptomycin (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) under standard cell culture conditions of 5 CO2 in an incubator at 37uC.Detection of Protein in cell culture mediaCells were allowed to grow up to 80 confluence in complete media. At 80 confluent level, media was discarded and cells were washed with PBS twice. After washing, cells were added with serum-free media. Cells were cultured in serum-free media for 24 h. After 24 h, media was collected and analyzed for BMI1 secretory protein by using Immuno-Slot-blot assay. The Slot-blot assay was performed as per the manufacturers’ protocol (Whatman, Florham Park, NJ). Briefly, Slot-blot apparatus was assembled using Whatman filter paper and a pre-wetted nitrocellulose membrane. Next, the apparatus was connected to a vacuum pump. Slots were filled with samples (media/serum) and then drawn by vacuum (unused slots were filled with PBS). The membranes were then blocked for 2 h in blocking buffer (5 nonfat dry milk). The blots were incubated with BMI1 primary antibody, washed and incubated with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Sigma, Saint Louise, MO). The blots were detected with chemiluminescence (ECL kit, Amersham Biosciences).Cell Selection(a) Caucasian Cells: RWPE1 (normal), BPH-1 (non-malignant hyperplasia) and, LNCaP, C4-2B, PC-3, Du145 and VCaP representing Caucasian prostate cancer. WPMYI1 stromal fibroblasts were also used. (b) African American Cells:.