The many ways to make a luminal cell and a prostate cancer cell

Abstract

Research in the area of stem/progenitor cells has led to the identification of multiple stem-like cell populations implicated in prostate homeostasis and cancer initiation. Given that there are multiple cells that can regenerate prostatic tissue and give rise to prostate cancer, our focus should shift to defining the signaling mechanisms that drive differentiation and progenitor self-renewal. In this article, we will review the literature, present the evidence and raise important unanswered questions that will help guide the field forward in dissecting critical mechanisms regulating stem-cell differentiation and tumor initiation.

Keywords: carcinoma; prostate.

Figure 1

Model of prostate epithelial homeostasis and cancer initiation. In the benign prostate, basal cells and luminal cells predominantly self-renew to make more of themselves, while rare basal cells differentiate into the luminal lineage. Upon basal cell transformation, basal to luminal differentiation is enhanced and cancers become driven by tumorigenic luminal cells in the absence of the initiating basal cells. Luminal transformation rapidly gives rise to tumorigenic luminal cells.