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Enhancing Prostate Tumor Biobanking Reliability with Improved Sampling Technique and Histological Characterization
Published on: November 17, 2023
A spotlight on PTEN alterations in prostate cancer: A narrative review
D Alaimo1, F Di Costanzo2, M Oltrecolli3
1Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy; Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Abstract:
Among the molecular alterations observed in prostate cancer, PTEN loss represents a key event, functionally linked to aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Loss of PTEN function contributes to disease progression, therapy resistance and poor prognosis. This review highlights the biological significance and the prognostic role of PTEN in prostate cancer, the biologically relevant crosstalk between the PI3K and androgen receptor pathways, and the implications of this interaction for tumour adaptation and treatment resistance. We also discuss current methodologies for PTEN assessment, including immunohistochemistry and genomic techniques, and provide an overview of clinical trials targeting the PI3K/AKT axis in prostate cancer. Understanding PTEN alterations is essential for improving prognostic stratification and guiding precision oncology approaches.
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