Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
13:19
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
17.3K
Somatic Mutations in Prostate Cancer: Closer to Personalized Medicine
M J Alvarez-Cubero1,2, L J Martinez-Gonzalez3, I Robles-Fernandez4
1Laboratory of Genetic Identification, Legal Medicine and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. mjesusac@ugr.es.
Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy
|December 21, 2016
Summary
This review explores key somatic mutations in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. Identifying these genetic alterations is crucial for understanding PCa heterogeneity and advancing personalized medicine.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The molecular underpinnings of prostate cancer (PCa) remain incompletely understood.
- PCa progression is influenced by androgen, PI3K/Akt, and PTEN signaling pathways, alongside cell cycle and apoptotic mechanisms.
- While alterations in common oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are infrequent, recent research highlights the significance of somatic mutations, particularly in PIK3CA, in cancer progression, though data in PCa is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review principal somatic mutations implicated in the progression of hormonal cancers, with a focus on prostate cancer.
- To highlight the role of genetic tools in elucidating PCa's biological heterogeneity and understanding treatment resistance.
- To emphasize the potential of incorporating somatic mutation screening into clinical practice for personalized medicine approaches in PCa.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles and research data.
- Analysis of genetic alterations and their association with prostate cancer progression.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on somatic mutations in hormonal cancers.
Main Results:
- Somatic mutations, especially in genes like PIK3CA, are increasingly recognized for their role in cancer progression, although their prevalence in prostate cancer requires further investigation.
- Understanding the biological heterogeneity of PCa through genetic analysis is key to deciphering disease progression and treatment resistance mechanisms.
- The identified somatic mutations offer insights into the molecular landscape of prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating the screening of relevant somatic mutations can facilitate the identification of optimal treatments for individual prostate cancer patients, paving the way for personalized medicine.
- Further research into somatic mutations is essential for a comprehensive understanding of prostate cancer biology and for developing targeted therapies.
- The review underscores the importance of genetic profiling in managing prostate cancer effectively.
More Related Videos
07:25A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
14.0K
07:34Author Spotlight: Advancing Prostate Cancer Research Through Improved Tissue Sampling and Biobanking
Published on: November 17, 2023
1.3K
Related Concept Videos
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
6.3K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.3K
02:18Cancer
55.3K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
55.3K
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
15.2K
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
15.2K
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
9.0K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.0K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
5.3K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K