[Molecular mechanisms of zinc in prostate cancer]

In many developed countries, prostate cancer is the most common male tumour disease. The high incidence and mortality requires early diagnosis, differentiation of aggressive, highly malignant forms from clinically silent forms and understanding of the pathogenesis with its typical metabolic aberrancies (if any) in order to develop new targeted therapies. Prostate cells (including prostate cancer cells) are unique in their relation to zinc ions. Prostate tissue can accumulate these ions in up to tenfold higher concentration than other body cells. These ions influence many cellular processes incl. proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Prostate cancer cells lack ability to accumulate zinc. Therefore, zinc ions may be expected to play an important role in the disease pathogenesis, in its propagation and metastatic potential of tumour cells. Intracellular zinc levels are regulated by zinc-binding proteins, especially metallothioneins, and zinc transporters. Zinc level regulation dysfunction has been identified in prostate cancer cells and may thus play an important role in the prostate cancer pathogenesis. Moreover, due to its overproduction by prostate tissue, metallothionein serum levels are elevated and can be used as an important tumour marker.