LNCaP cells (5 × 106) were used to produce subcutaneous xenograft tumors in 8-week-old male NOD/SCID mice (The Jackson Laboratory); tumor volume was monitored according to our published systems [21] (link). Tumor growth was measured by serum PSA levels (PSA kit, Abcam). Mice were surgically castrated when tumor reached 100 to 200 mm3. Serum PSA was determined before and following castration. Rise in serum PSA indicates CRPC growth. Animals were sacrificed once tumors reached a volume ≥1000 mm3.
Prostate-specific PTEN−/− mice were produced using PTENloxp/loxp (C;129S4-Ptentm1Hwu/J; the Jackson Laboratory) and PB-Cre4 mice [B6.Cg-Tg(Pbsn-cre)4Prb, the NCI Mouse Repository] following our published conditions [22] . Surgical castration was performed when mice were 23 weeks old and subsequently monitored for 13 weeks. All animal protocols were approved by the McMaster University Animal Research Ethics Board.
Prostate-specific PTEN−/− mice were produced using PTENloxp/loxp (C;129S4-Ptentm1Hwu/J; the Jackson Laboratory) and PB-Cre4 mice [B6.Cg-Tg(Pbsn-cre)4Prb, the NCI Mouse Repository] following our published conditions [22] . Surgical castration was performed when mice were 23 weeks old and subsequently monitored for 13 weeks. All animal protocols were approved by the McMaster University Animal Research Ethics Board.