Neuroendocrine Differentiation in the Progression of Prostate Cancer: An Update on Recent Developments

作     者：Valérie Perrot 

作者机构：Laboratory M.E.R.C.I.-EA 3829 Institute of Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB) University of Rouen Rouen France 

出 版 物：《Open Journal of Urology》 (泌尿学期刊（英文）)

年 卷 期：2012年第2卷第3期

页      面：173-182页

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100214[医学-肿瘤学] 10[医学] 

主　　题：Prostate Cancer Hormonal Therapy Neuroendocrine Neuroendocrine Differentiation Neuropeptides Chromogranin A Tumorigenesis Adenocarcinoma 

摘      要：Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, either benign or malignant, is the hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa). Clusters of malignant NE cells are found in most prostate cancer cases. NE differentiation is among the non-mutually exclusive theories proposed to explain the progression to androgen independence of PCa. NE differentiation is usually associated with an increased aggressivity and invasiveness of prostate tumors and a poor prognosis. This review aims to present an overview of current knowledge on neuroendocrine differentiation in PCa to improve our understanding of tumour progression and androgen independence. The NE component represents an important therapeutic axis. Development of new generation of drugs that selectively target NE-like cells may lead to the development of new therapeutic modalities for advanced and hormone-refractory PCa.