Open Access

Patterns of indolence in prostate cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Minas Sakellakis
    • Laura Jacqueline Flores
    • Sumankalai Ramachandran
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 28, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11278
  • Article Number: 351
  • Copyright: © Sakellakis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Although prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer‑related mortality worldwide, most patients will have a relatively indolent clinical course. Contrary to most other types of cancer, even the diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic disease is not always lethal. The present review aimed to summarize what is known regarding the underlying mechanisms related to the indolent course of subsets of prostate cancer, at various stages. The data suggested that no specific gene alteration by itself was responsible for carcinogenesis or disease aggressiveness. However, pathway analysis identified genetic aberrations in multiple critical pathways that tend to accumulate over the course of the disease. The progression from indolence into aggressive disease is associated with a complex interplay in which genetic and epigenetic factors are involved. The effect of the immune tumor microenvironment is also very important. Emerging evidence has suggested that the upregulation of pathways related to cellular aging and senescence can identify patients with indolent disease. In addition, a number of tumors enter a long‑lasting quiescent state. Further research will determine whether halting tumor evolution is a feasible option, and whether the life of patients can be markedly prolonged by inducing tumor senescence or long‑term dormancy.
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May-2022
Volume 23 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Sakellakis M, Flores LJ and Ramachandran S: Patterns of indolence in prostate cancer (Review). Exp Ther Med 23: 351, 2022
APA
Sakellakis, M., Flores, L.J., & Ramachandran, S. (2022). Patterns of indolence in prostate cancer (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 23, 351. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11278
MLA
Sakellakis, M., Flores, L. J., Ramachandran, S."Patterns of indolence in prostate cancer (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23.5 (2022): 351.
Chicago
Sakellakis, M., Flores, L. J., Ramachandran, S."Patterns of indolence in prostate cancer (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23, no. 5 (2022): 351. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11278