TITLE:
Neuroendocrine Differentiation in the Progression of Prostate Cancer: An Update on Recent Developments
AUTHORS:
Valérie Perrot
KEYWORDS:
Prostate Cancer; Hormonal Therapy; Neuroendocrine; Neuroendocrine Differentiation; Neuropeptides; Chromogranin A; Tumorigenesis; Adenocarcinoma
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Urology,
Vol.2 No.3A,
October
30,
2012
ABSTRACT: Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, either benign or malignant, is the hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa). Clusters of malignant NE cells are found in most prostate cancer cases. NE differentiation is among the non-mutually exclusive theories proposed to explain the progression to androgen independence of PCa. NE differentiation is usually associated with an increased aggressivity and invasiveness of prostate tumors and a poor prognosis. This review aims to present an overview of current knowledge on neuroendocrine differentiation in PCa to improve our understanding of tumour progression and androgen independence. The NE component represents an important therapeutic axis. Development of new generation of drugs that selectively target NE-like cells may lead to the development of new therapeutic modalities for advanced and hormone-refractory PCa.