Androgens and prostate cancer.
Over 60 years ago Huggins and Hodges demonstrated the importance of androgens and prostate cancer. Since then, significant research has revealed that this relationship is multi-faceted and is interwoven with different signaling cascades and protein coactivators. The complex interrelationship between hormone and cancer is best exemplified by the recurrence and progression of prostate cancer after hormonal therapy to a lethally resistant phenotype despite initially encouraging therapeutic responses. If we are to significantly improve survival with novel therapies, further understanding of the emergence of this resistant phenotype is essential. The purpose of this article is to review the mechanisms of androgen action and its relation to hormonal therapy and mechanisms of hormonal resistance.
The Prostate Centre at the Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 2660-Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6 Canada. aso@vanhosp.bc.ca
Alan I
AI
So
Antonio
A
Hurtado-Coll
Martin E
ME
Gleave
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051152:Clusterin; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D051152:Clusterin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2; C495242:CLU protein, human