title: [Molecular biological mechanisms in prostatic neoplasms].
abstract: An overview is given on three topics of prostate carcinoma: 1. New data on genetic factors in the pathogenesis, 2. molecular activation mechanisms in metastasis and 3. endocrine dedifferentiation during the course of the disease causing androgen independent state. Recent epidemiological analyses have clearly shown, that a specific part of prostate cancer is inherited. By DNA-interphase analyses specific allelic losses have been demonstrated. Metastatic progression is both associated with oncogene ras activation and chromosomal deletions. Endocrinological dedifferentiation cannot be simply explained by an overgrowth by androgen-receptor negative tumor cells, but by a more complex deregulation with strong influences by stromal-epithelial interactions. Downregulation of the promoter region of the androgen receptor may play a crucial role in the development of "endocrine deafness".
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie der Universität Regensburg.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hofstaedter
mesh_terms: D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D015870:Gene Expression; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*