title: Mast cells as a potential prognostic marker in prostate cancer.
abstract: Despite years of intensive investigation that has been made in understanding prostate cancer, it remains one of the major men's health issues and the leading cause of death worldwide. It is now ascertained that prostate cancer emerges from multiple spontaneous and/or inherited alterations that induce changes in expression patterns of genes and proteins that function in complex networks controlling critical cellular events. It is now accepted that several innate and adaptive immune cells, including T- and B-lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells (MCs), infiltrate the prostate cancer. All of these cells are irregularly scattered within the tumor and loaded with an assorted array of cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory and cytotoxic mediators. This complex framework reflects the diversity in tumor biology and tumor-host interactions. MCs are well-established effector cells in Immunoglobulin-E (Ig-E) associated immune responses and potent effector cells of the innate immune system; however, their clinical significance in prostate cancer is still debated. Here, these controversies are summarized, focusing on the implications of these findings in understanding the roles of MCs in primary prostate cancer.
authors: Department of Urology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy.
authors: Gianluigi
authors: G
authors: Taverna
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Giusti
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Seveso
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Hurle
authors: Piergiuseppe
authors: P
authors: Colombo
authors: Sanja
authors: S
authors: Stifter
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Grizzi
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor