Molecular biology and prostate cancer

Recent years have seen significant advances in the technology available to study prostate cancer (PCa). Identification of processes that are frequently deranged in PCa has led to improved understanding of the pathogenesis and molecular biology of PCa. While much remains poorly understood, aberrant processes which render cancer cells susceptible to the effects of drugs have been identified; and attempts to manipulate these factors for therapeutic effect in patients are described as are cellular processes of importance in PCa. Demonstration of overactivity of specific signaling pathways in PCa and high-throughput development of drugs to target them have led to a large number of candidate therapeutic agents, many of which have demonstrated biological effects in cell culture and animal models. Clinical trials testing the effectiveness of these agents and these developments are summarized here demonstrating the impact of translational research. Novel biomarkers have also been described which may prove useful in particular settings such as in aiding diagnosis and early detection of disease. Our current understanding of the pathology of PCa metastases to bone is also described with reference to current and investigational therapies.