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Review
. 2008 Sep;4(3):193-201.
doi: 10.1007/s12015-008-9033-1.

Exploring the origins of the normal prostate and prostate cancer stem cell

Susan Kasper  1
Affiliations
Review

Exploring the origins of the normal prostate and prostate cancer stem cell

Susan Kasper. Stem Cell Rev. 2008 Sep.

Erratum in

  • Stem Cell Rev. 2008 Dec;4(4):329

Abstract

Prostate epithelial stem cells (PSCs) are primed by the urogenital mesenchyme to initiate bud formation and branching morphogenesis, ultimately culminating in a glandular structure composed of luminal, basal and neuroendocrine cells. Identity of this cell has remained elusive however cell populations enriched for cells exhibiting stem cell characteristics express the stem cell markers CD133(+), alpha2beta1(hi), CD44 and Sca-1 along with embryonic stem cell factors including Oct-1, Nanog, Sox2 and nestin. Androgens are critical to prostate organogenesis and play a major role in normal prostate function and the development of prostate cancer. Cell lineage is another variable in the development of prostate cancer. This review discusses the embryonic prostate stem cell niche, normal prostate development, isolation and characterization of normal prostate and prostate cancer stem cells, and current concepts on the origin of prostate cancer.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Models for ontogeny of the epithelial lineages in the prostate. a The epithelial lineages are derived from PSCs which reside in the basal cell compartment. b Basal, luminal and neuroendocrine cells represent separate epithelial cell lineages. c Ontogeny of the neuroendocrine lineage. a common prostatic stem/progenitor cell; b neural crest stem/progenitor cell. References: Grey font [22, 26], Red font [65], Green font [66], Blue font [54], Dark pink font [16], Pale pink font [14], Purple font [40]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The epigenetic progenitor origin of cancer. Epithelial or neuroendocrine cells may acquire epigenetic modifications and genetic mutations through DNA damage, oxidative stress, etc. during the process of differentiation. The phenotypic characteristics of the cancer would therefore be determined by the stem or progenitor cell-of-origin
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Self-renewal in prostate cancer. The maintenance or reactivation of a self-renewal program appears central to tumorigenesis. a and b demonstrate the CSC hypothesis in which epigenetic changes and mutations in stem/progenitor cells give rise to prostate cancer. c Cancer cells acquire mutations which reactivate self-renewal. NE neuroendocrine
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