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Updated: Aug 31, 2025
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Developing New Treatment Options for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer and Recurrent Disease
Bo-Ren Wang1,2,3, Yu-An Chen2, Wei-Hsiang Kao2,4
1Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41152, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major diagnosed cancer among men globally, and about 20% of patients develop metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) in the initial diagnosis. PCa is a typical androgen-dependent disease; thus, hormonal therapy is commonly used as a standard care for mPCa by inhibiting androgen receptor (AR) activities, or androgen metabolism. Inevitably, almost all PCa will acquire resistance and become castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) that is associated with AR gene mutations or amplification, the presence of AR variants, loss of AR expression toward neuroendocrine phenotype, or other hormonal receptors. Treating CRPC poses a great challenge to clinicians. Research efforts in the last decade have come up with several new anti-androgen agents to prolong overall survival of CRPC patients. In addition, many potential targeting agents have been at the stage of being able to translate many preclinical discoveries into clinical practices. At this juncture, it is important to highlight the emerging strategies including small-molecule inhibitors to AR variants, DNA repair enzymes, cell survival pathway, neuroendocrine differentiation pathway, radiotherapy, CRPC-specific theranostics and immune therapy that are underway or have recently been completed.
Insights
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer in men. Emerging therapies target castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) by addressing resistance mechanisms and exploring new treatment strategies for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cancer diagnosis in men worldwide.
- Metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) affects approximately 20% of patients at initial diagnosis.
- PCa is androgen-dependent, with hormonal therapy as a standard treatment for mPCa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging treatment strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
- To highlight advancements in targeting resistance mechanisms in advanced prostate cancer.
- To discuss novel therapeutic approaches for challenging CRPC cases.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research and clinical trials on CRPC treatments.
- Analysis of emerging therapeutic targets and strategies.
- Synthesis of information on small-molecule inhibitors, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Main Results:
- Hormonal therapy resistance is a significant challenge in CRPC, driven by AR alterations and phenotypic changes.
- New anti-androgen agents and targeted therapies are improving survival for CRPC patients.
- Emerging strategies include inhibitors of AR variants, DNA repair, and neuroendocrine pathways, alongside theranostics and immunotherapy.
Conclusions:
- CRPC presents a significant clinical challenge due to treatment resistance.
- Ongoing research is yielding promising new therapeutic agents and strategies.
- Future directions involve a multi-faceted approach combining novel inhibitors, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy for improved CRPC management.
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