Anti-Cancer Stem-Cell-Targeted Therapies in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer in men around the world. It is treated using a risk stratification approach in accordance with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in the United States. The main treatment options for early PCa include external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy, active surveillance, or a combination approach. In those with advanced disease, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is considered as a first-line therapy. However, the majority of cases eventually progress while receiving ADT, leading to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The near inevitable progression to CRPC has spurred the recent development of many novel medical treatments using targeted therapies. In this review, we outline the current landscape of stem-cell-targeted therapies for PCa, summarize their mechanisms of action, and discuss avenues of future development.

The lipid droplet in cancer: From being a tumor‐supporting hallmark to clinical therapy

“…In addition to relieving the stress of cancer cells, the crosstalk between LDs and intracellular FFAs also enables tumor survival and metastasis. For example, cancer stem cells (CSCs), as sources of cancer cells, are responsible for metastatic transmission, possess high self‐renewal ability, 48 and produce more unsaturated FAs than non‐stem cells 49 . Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) affect the formation of CSCs 50 .…”

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Markers in Prostate Cancer: From Bench to Bedside

“…Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent type of cancer in men worldwide, with 288,300 new cases and 34,700 deaths estimated in the United States in 2023 [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Mortality rates for PCa have decreased in recent years with the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing; however, there remains a significant disease burden [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Mortality rates for PCa have decreased in recent years with the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing; however, there remains a significant disease burden [ 4 , 5 ]. The most common type of PCa is adenocarcinoma, which is graded using the Gleason scoring system [ 2 ]. This system is based on the architectural growth patterns of the tumor, with Gleason pattern 1 showing discrete, well-formed small round glands and Gleason pattern 5 showing sheets of tumor cells or individual cells with no gland formation [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Treatment options for early-stage PCa include external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy, active surveillance, or a combination of these [ 2 ]. In more advanced cases, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is considered the first-line therapy, given that PCa cells rely on the androgen receptor (AR) for growth and survival [ 2 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Treatment options for early-stage PCa include external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy, active surveillance, or a combination of these [ 2 ]. In more advanced cases, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is considered the first-line therapy, given that PCa cells rely on the androgen receptor (AR) for growth and survival [ 2 , 9 , 10 ]. Despite these interventions, PCa in many patients eventually progresses to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), marking the transition from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent state.…”