Molecular and cellular biology of prostate cancer - the role of apoptosis as a target for therapy

Despite the high incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer, the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of the disease remain to be fully elucidated. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on prostatic carcinogenesis, focusing not only on the molecular genetics of prostate cancer, but also on the role of oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes, and growth factors. The remarkable ability of prostate cancer cells to survive androgen withdrawal and apoptosis are discussed, with particular emphasis on how apoptosis may be manipulated from a therapeutic viewpoint.