Literature Review: Summary and Conclusions

NE cells constitute the third component of prostatic epithelial cells and may play a role in the normal development and function of benign prostatic tissue. They are also present in prostate cancers and their number and activity increase in high grade and androgen deprived-cancers, particularly in those that are androgen-independent. The origin of NE cells in prostate cancer is unclear and they may be derived from transformed stem cells or from non-NE cancer cells through transdifferentiation. In-vitro and in-vivo evidence suggest that the products of the NE cells may contribute to the emergence of androgen-independence by acting on the receptors present in non-NE cancer cells in a paracrine fashion. Identification of the key molecules required for NE differentiation or the crucial NE cell effectors that promote androgen-independent growth may provide novel targets that can be exploited to prevent the progression of prostate cancer to the hormone refractory state.

Literature Review Next Section: References

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