The role of caveolin-1 in androgen insensitive prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We summarize the literature regarding androgen insensitive prostate cancer and caveolin-1. Caveolin-1 is a major structural component of caveolae, membrane micro-domains known to have important roles in signal transduction and lipid transport.


METHODS
A review of the literature relevant to androgen insensitive caveolin-1 and prostate cancer included the first published report in 1998 through those published in March 2002.


RESULTS
Caveolin-1 expression is increased in primary and metastatic human prostate cancer with highest levels observed after androgen ablation therapy. Recent studies have documented that caveolin-1 is secreted by prostate cancer cells and can be detected in the serum of men with prostate cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented in this review establish that caveolin-1 is an autocrine/paracrine factor associated with androgen insensitive prostate cancer. They show the potential for caveolin-1 as a biomarker therapeutic target for this important malignancy.
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000502:physiology; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495540:CAV1 protein, human; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins