Interactions and communications in the prostate tumour microenvironment: evolving towards effective cancer therapy

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in men. The tumour microenvironment (TME) has a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of prostate cancer. TME contains various cell types, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, immune cells such as macrophages, lymphocytes B and T, natural killer (NK) cells, and other proteins such as extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The interactions and communications between these cells within the TME are crucial for the growth and response of various solid tumours, such as prostate cancer to different anticancer modalities. In this review article, we exemplify the various mechanisms by which the TME influences prostate cancer progression. The roles of different cells, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in modulating the immune response and prostate tumour growth will be discussed. The impact of these cells and factors and other ECM components on tumour cell invasion and metastasis will also be discussed. We explain how these interactions in TME can affect the response of prostate cancer to therapy. We also highlight the importance of understanding these interactions to develop novel therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer.