Endothelium-derived factors as paracrine mediators of prostate cancer progression.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelium represents a complex network of cells producing a large number of active substrates affecting physiologic, metabolic, and immunologic properties of the whole organism, as well as particular organs or tissues. The potential influence of endothelium-derived paracrine factors on prostate cancer progression has only begun to be examined.


METHODS
This review summarizes recent literature on endothelium-derived factors, including vasoactive agents, peptide growth factors, cytokines, and colony-stimulating factors, involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer.


RESULTS
Endothelial cells produce an array of active substrates, many of which have been shown to influence prostate cancer growth. Available data demonstrate the positive impact of such molecules as endothelin-1, basic FGF, TGF-beta, IL-6, and IL-8 on prostate cancer progression. Many other endothelium-derived factors NO, IGF, PDGF, IL-1, G-CSF, and GM-CSF (Nitric Oxide, Insulin-Like Growth Factor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor, Interleukin-1, Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor, and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor) are, at best, implicated in prostate cancer growth, and in most cases support cancer progression.


CONCLUSIONS
A better understanding of endothelium-derived factors, as paracrine mediators of prostate carcinogenesis and progression, should aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Pirtskhalaishvili
G
G
Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Nelson
J B
JB
D002455:Cell Division; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology
D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016232:Endothelins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013002:Somatomedins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors