Insights into Ca2+ homeostasis of advanced prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the second cancer-related cause of death. Nowadays, the aim of treatments is to decrease the effects of androgens on this organ. Unfortunately, over time, patients develop an androgen-independent cancer with a fatal outcome. The main features of late stage prostate cancer are an increased cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance. It is well known that calcium (Ca2+), a ubiquitous secondary messenger, is involved in several processes such as apoptosis and proliferation. In this mini review, we will focus on the changes in Ca2+ homeostasis of prostate cancer epithelial cells during prostate cancer evolution.