Molecular heterogeneity in prostate cancer: can TP53 mutation unravel tumorigenesis?
While prostate cancer is the most common malignant visceral neoplasm of men, its etiology remains largely unknown and its clinical course unpredictable. Molecular genetics of prostate cancer has become a fruitful area of investigation and might provide clues to understanding these phenomena. Mutation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene (encoding the p53 protein) has been commonly reported as a critical event in human carcinogenesis, but recent findings in prostate cancer research call into question the correlation between TP53 mutation and prognosis for patients with this tumor. Whole-mount analysis has begun to address the histologic significance of the focal evolution of TP53 mutation in a pre-existing cancer and to reveal its role throughout the process of tumor progression. This model might also apply to other tumors.
Roy-Burman
P
P
Dept of Pathology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA. royburma@zygote.hsc.usc.edu
Zheng
J
J
Miller
G J
GJ
D018450:Disease Progression; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D013234:Stem Cells; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53