These data suggest the possible implication of MGF E peptide in cancer biology, implying a preferential MGF expression in PCa tissues and cells. This preferential IGF-1 mRNA expression generates the MGF E peptide that possesses mitogenic activity through mechanisms independent of IGF-1R, IR, and hybrid IGF-1R/IR.

Disseminated malignancy is the major cause of prostate cancer-related mortality. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are essential for the establishment of metastasis. Various contemporary and molecular methods using prostate-specific biomarkers have been applied to detect extraprostatic disease that is undetectable by conventional imaging techniques, assessing the risk for disease recurrence after therapy of curative intent. However, the clinical relevance of CTC detection is still controversial. We review current literature regarding molecular methods used for the detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood and bone marrow biopsies of patients with prostate cancer, and we discuss the methodological pitfalls that influence the clinical significance of molecular staging.

As the presence of tumor cells circulating in the blood is associated with systemic disease and shortened survival, the establishment of a method to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is of critical importance for a more concise staging and follow-up of cancer patients. Recently, the most robust strategies for the determination of CTCs are the PCR-based methods and the CellSearch® system that exploits the immunofluorescent characterization and isolation of cancer cells. Herein, we analyzed the experimental strategies used for determining CTCs with respect to accuracy, sensitivity and reproducibility in cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and melanoma.

In patients with clinically localized prostate cancer and positive RT-PCR detection of PSA and PSMA transcripts in PB, CAB can convert positive molecular staging status to negative and by doing so it modifies the post-curative therapy bFFS of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Φυσιολογίας της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστηµίου Αθηνών, για την εµπιστοσύνη που µου έδειξε και µου ανέθεσε την παρούσα µελέτη, αλλά κυρίως για την καθοδήγηση και την αρωγή του στις ερευνητικές µου αναζητήσεις όλα αυτά τα χρόνια. Τον ευχαριστώ από καρδιάς και είναι αναµφίβολη τιµή για µένα η συνεργασία µου µαζί του.