title: Clinical implications of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer.
abstract: The cellular signaling pathways of the prostate play a central role in the induction, maintenance, and progression of prostate cancer (CaP). Neuroendocrine (NE) cells demonstrate attributes that suggest they are an integral part of these signaling cascades. We summarize what is known regarding NE cells in CaP focusing on NE cellular transdifferentiation. This significant event in CaP progression appears to be accelerated by androgen deprivation (AD) treatment. We examine biochemical pathways that may impact NE differentiation in a chronological manner focusing on AD therapy (ADT) as a central event in inducing androgen-independent CaP. Our analysis is limited to the common adenocarcinoma pattern of CaP and excludes small-cell and carcinoid prostatic variants. In conclusion, we speculate on the future of treatment and research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Davis Medical Center, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cambio
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ok
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000628:therapy; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy