The role of motility proteins and metastasis-suppressor genes in prostate cancer progression.
In 1996, an estimated 317,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. The incidence of prostate cancer has more than doubled in the past five years; in fact, it is estimated that aggressive screening starting at age 50 could potentially identify 10,000,000 American men with histologically localized prostate cancer. In order to reduce deaths from prostate cancer, it is necessary not only to diagnose but also to accurately predict the clinical course of an individual patient's cancer, thus allowing for more effectively directed treatment. Acquisition of metastatic ability is a well-recognized criterion for the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. A number of molecular and cellular changes associated with the malignant progression of prostate cancer have been identified. Certain of these changes may potentially be used as markers for metastatic ability of histologically localized prostate cancer cells. This concise review will consider two parameters which are associated with the acquisition of metastatic ability: increased cellular motility and loss of metastasis-suppressor gene function. A link between these two parameters has been demonstrated and may contribute to the development of innovative approaches for predicting the metastatic ability of individual tumors.
University of Chicago, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
C W
CW
Rinker-Schaeffer
M A
MA
Chekmareva
J L
JL
Mohler
D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*