Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2025
Prostate Organoid Cultures as Tools to Translate Genotypes and Mutational Profiles to Pharmacological Responses
Published on: October 24, 2019
Immunogenomic profiles associated with response to life-prolonging agents in prostate cancer
Vincenza Conteduca1, Nicole Brighi2, Giuseppe Schepisi2
1Unit of Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, 71122, Foggia, Italy. vincenza.conteduca@unifg.it.
Abstract:
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer but the management of advanced prostate cancer remains a therapeutic challenge, despite the survival benefits imparted by several therapeutic discoveries targeting different molecular pathways. The mechanisms of resistance to androgen deprivation and tumour progression to lethal metastatic variants are often regulated by androgen receptor (AR) bypass mechanisms and/or neuroendocrine differentiation. Moreover, recent data also suggested the involvement of adaptive and innate infiltrated immune cells in prostate tumour progression. Improvements in cancer genome analyses contributed to a better understanding of antitumour immunity and provided solutions for targeting highly cancer-specific neoantigens generated from somatic mutations in individual patients. In this review, we investigated the current knowledge on the interplay between cancer development and the complex mechanisms of immune regulation. Particularly, we focused on the role of tumour immune microenvironment, generally characterised by strong barriers for immunotherapy, and we discuss the rationale for the potential application of single agent and combination immune-targeting strategies that could lead to improved outcomes. Careful selection based on clinical and genomic factors may allow identification of patients who could benefit from this treatment approach in multiple settings (from localised to advanced prostate tumour) and in different histological subtypes (from adenocarcinoma to neuroendocrine prostate cancer).
Insights
Advanced prostate cancer management is challenging. This review explores immune microenvironment interactions and immunotherapy strategies for better patient outcomes, especially in neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a leading diagnosis, with advanced stages posing significant therapeutic challenges.
- Resistance to androgen deprivation therapy and progression involve androgen receptor (AR) bypass and neuroendocrine differentiation.
- Tumor progression is influenced by adaptive and innate immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interplay between prostate cancer development and immune regulation mechanisms.
- To focus on the tumor immune microenvironment's role and barriers to immunotherapy.
- To discuss immune-targeting strategies for improved treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current knowledge on prostate cancer immunity.
- Analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment in prostate cancer.
- Investigation of single agent and combination immunotherapies.
Main Results:
- The tumor immune microenvironment presents significant barriers to effective immunotherapy.
- Understanding antitumour immunity through cancer genome analysis offers new therapeutic targets.
- Immune-targeting strategies show potential for improving outcomes in various prostate cancer settings.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the immune microenvironment is a promising avenue for advanced prostate cancer treatment.
- Careful patient selection based on clinical and genomic factors is crucial for immunotherapy success.
- Immunotherapy approaches may benefit patients with both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
