Elucidation of the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Lymph Node Metastasis in Prostate Cancer

摘要

Metastatic spread of prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths of men in the United States. Although there are many ways to treat non- metastatic form of prostate cancer, only androgen-deprivation therapy is available for the extensive stage. Again, the cancer will often progress to an androgen refractory (independent), metastatic stage. Recent reports have suggested that the expression of VEGF-C is directly correlated with lymph node dissemination in prostate cancer. This finding leads us to think that understanding the role of angiogenic molecules like VEGF-C, -D in prostate cancer metastasis. Interestingly our results suggest a function of VEGF-C, which is directly related to its role in increasing the metastatic propensity of prostate cancer rather than inducing lymphangiogenesis. We have also delineated both positive (FOXO-1, ROS and RalA) and negative (NKX3.1) regulatory pathways that can be accounted for VEGF-C synthesis in prostate cancer cells.