Therapeutic targeting of prostate cancer

An inaugural conference in Tucson Arizona on May 6-9, 2004 brought together more than 70 clinical and basic scientists to discuss recent research advances in understanding and targeting the progression of the human prostate cancer. The informal meeting was unique in that it provided the opportunity for discussion and interaction between these different groups of scientists whose paths rarely cross. The goal of the meeting was to develop new and novel approaches in understanding the human prostate cancer in order to uncover therapeutic targets. Faculty from six different cancer centers were represented including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY); Arizona Cancer Center (Tucson, AZ); Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Seattle, WA); Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (Irvine, CA); the Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center (San Diego, CA); Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California (Los Angeles, CA); and University of Massachusetts Memorial Cancer Center (Worcester, MA). Several important concepts emerged from this meeting as a result of the basic and clinical science interface. These concepts include: (1) Human prostate cancer has unique biological features as compared to other human epithelial malignancies; (2) Tumor plasticity is evident early in prostate cancer progression as evidenced by alterations in the extracellular matrix; (3) New therapeutic strategies should include the co-targeting of the stroma and prostate cancer; (4) Cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion switching are reversible phenotypes evident early in human prostate tumor progression; (5) The discovery of molecular signatures including genomic or proteomic patterns for the discrimination of indolent versus aggressive disease is a potentially powerful tool and requires multifactorial approaches for success; and (6) New biomarkers and innovative tissue specific imaging modalities for human prostate cancer are being developed that may aid in a more accurate assessment of prostate cancer in patients.