Methods and compositions for the inhibition of Stat5 in prostate cancer cells

1. A method of inhibiting prostate cancer cell growth, comprising inhibiting Stat5 activity in the prostate cancer cells, wherein Stat5 activity is inhibited by contacting the prostate cancer cells with an inhibitor of Stat5 activity, wherein the inhibitor of Stat5 activity is an siRNA or an antisense RNA that is directed to a Stat5 nucleic acid, or a nucleic acid that encodes a mutated Stat5a or mutated Stat5b that has dominant-negative Stat5 function.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of Stat5 activity is an siRNA.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the siRNA inhibits the activity of a Stat5 polypeptide.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Stat5 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: Stat5a and Stat5b.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the siRNA inhibits the expression of a Stat5 polypeptide.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the Stat5 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: Stat5a and Stat5b.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the siRNA comprises Stat5 nucleic acid.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the Stat5 nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: Stat5a nucleic acid and Stat5b nucleic acid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibition of Stat5 activity in the prostate cancer cells results in prostate cancer cell death.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prostate cancer is primary prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, or metastatic prostate cancer.

11. A method of treating prostate cancer in a male, comprising administering to a male in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an siRNA that inhibits the activity of Stat5 polypeptide in prostate cancer cells of the male, wherein the siRNA inhibits the expression of a Stat5 polypeptide.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the siRNA comprises Stat5 nucleic acid.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the Stat5 nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: Stat5a nucleic acid and Stat5b nucleic acid.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein inhibition of the activity of Stat5 in prostate cancer cells of the male results in prostate cancer cell death.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the prostate cancer is primary prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, or metastatic prostate cancer.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the Stat5 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: Stat5a and Stat5b.