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Updated: Aug 5, 2025

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Calcium signalling pathways in prostate cancer initiation and progression.
Roberto Silvestri1, Vanessa Nicolì2, Priyadarsini Gangadharannambiar3
1Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Altered calcium signaling is a key adaptation in cancer cells, particularly in prostate cancer progression. Targeting these calcium pathways offers a potential therapeutic strategy for all stages of the disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cancer cells adapt physiological signaling pathways for proliferation, differentiation, and migration.
- Altered calcium signaling is a common adaptation in cancer, promoting malignancy development.
- Prostate cancer development and progression are linked to significant changes in calcium signaling components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of altered calcium signaling in prostate cancer.
- To explore calcium signaling as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene expression data from in vitro, in vivo, patient samples, and xenografts.
- Review of preclinical and clinical evidence on calcium signaling in prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- Gene expression studies reveal substantial changes in calcium signaling toolkit components during prostate cancer development.
- Altered calcium signaling, including crosstalk with other pathways, drives prostate cancer onset and progression.
- Specific calcium signaling alterations are implicated in hormone-sensitive, castration-resistant, and aggressive prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- Calcium signaling remodeling is fundamental to prostate cancer progression across various subtypes.
- Modulating calcium signals presents a viable therapeutic strategy for early and advanced prostate cancer.
- Clinical trials are exploring the targeting of calcium signaling for prostate cancer treatment.
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