Prostate cancer stroma: an important factor in cancer growth and progression

Abstract

Reactive stromal changes that occur in different human cancers might play a role in local tumor spreading and progression. Studies done on various human cancers have shown activated stromal cell phenotypes, modified extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, and increased microvessel density. Furthermore, they exhibit biological markers consistent with stroma at the site of wound repair. In prostate cancer, stroma is composed of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells and immune cells. Predominant cells in the tumorous stroma are, however, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts. They are responsible for the synthesis, deposition and remodeling of the ECM. Epithelial tumorous cells, in interaction with stromal cells and with the help of various molecules of ECM, create a microenvironment suitable for cancer cell proliferation, movement, and differentiation. In this review, we discussed the role of different stromal components in prostate cancer as well as their potential prognostic and therapeutic significance.

Evaluation of Impact of Some Selected Plants on Haematological Parameters of Testosterone and Estradiol Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Adult Male Rats

“…Under certain conditions, if high level of T-lymphocytes is reached, surrounding cells are killed by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and prostatic tissue is replaced by fibromuscular nodules [48,52]. Local hypoxia and inflammation also promote fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation, which leads to extracellular changes forming suitable microenvironment for continuous inflammation [47, 52,59]. Inflammation is also continuously stimulated by androgens and changes within metabolic syndromes, but exact pathways are still mostly unknown [48, 60,61].…”

Interactions with Muscle Cells Boost Fusion, Stemness, and Drug Resistance of Prostate Cancer Cells

“…For instance, we observed hMYOs and mMYOs cocultured with cancer cells to form some multinucleated myotubes that we have not observed for either of these skeletal muscle cells grown in the same medium on their own. Three days of coculturing with cancer cells also resulted in a notable loss of muscle cells that may resemble the loss of smooth muscle and their replacement with fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in cancerous stroma surrounding developing tumor (45). The specific effects of cancer cells on the smooth and skeletal muscle cells in their environment still wait to be explored.…”

Histological and quantitative analyzes of the stromal and acinar components of normal human prostate zones

“…Few studies have reported on the role of elastic fibres and their receptors in BPH and in tumor invasion in PC. 25,26 The disorganization of intratumoural elastic fibres in the stroma of PC has previously been reported. 2,26 In our study, the largest number of elastic system fibres was found in the TZ; these fibres may have been secreted by muscle cells, which were also more numerous in this region than in other regions.…”

“…Few studies have reported on the role of elastic fibres and their receptors in BPH and in tumor invasion in PC . The disorganization of intratumoural elastic fibres in the stroma of PC has previously been reported .…”