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A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Androgen loss backfires: Brain gate for tumor immunity.
1The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, the First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|June 5, 2026
Summary
Androgen deprivation therapy may harm glioblastoma immunity. Androgen loss triggers a pathway increasing stress hormones, which suppresses crucial T cell responses against tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Endocrinology
- Cancer Immunology
Background:
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer.
- ADT is often assumed to enhance antitumor immunity.
- The impact of ADT on glioblastoma immunity is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of androgen loss on the tumor immune microenvironment in glioblastoma.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which androgen deprivation influences T cell function in the context of glioblastoma.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a glioblastoma model to study the effects of androgen deprivation.
- Analyzed the activation of the inflammasome-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
- Assessed T cell function and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment.
Main Results:
- Androgen loss activates a microglial inflammasome-HPA axis cascade.
- This cascade leads to elevated glucocorticoid levels.
- Elevated glucocorticoids were found to attenuate T cell function, suppressing antitumor immunity.
Conclusions:
- Contrary to assumptions, androgen deprivation impairs antitumor immunity in glioblastoma.
- The organ context of glioblastoma reverses the expected endocrine control of tumor immunity.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between hormones, the immune system, and cancer in specific microenvironments.
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