Richismita Hazra, Amity University Kolkata
Cells often manifest reversible changes in their properties and phenotypes which is known as cellular plasticity. This is also termed lineage plasticity or lineage switching. Cancer cells use this phenomenon to adapt to stressful conditions and this leads to cancer progression. Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive variant of prostate cancer that is associated with enhanced plasticity. This may arise newly or in patients previously treated with hormonal therapies for prostate adenocarcinoma as a mechanism of resistance. Presently there are no effective treatments for NEPC and this is a major problem faced by men.
Recently researchers from Flinders Institute of South Australia reported their findings on a novel mechanism in which prostate cancer cells are capable of ‘switch’ or alter their character due to which they become resistant to therapy. According to this study, the microRNA “miR-194” is responsible for the enhancement of plasticity in prostate cancer due to which the emergence of NEPC occurs. It was observed that target to miR-194 caused hindrance to the proliferation of cancer models with neuroendocrine characteristics. This molecule was found to be negatively associated with androgen receptor signaling.
Although this field demands further studies before the clinical approach, this study highlights the process of evolution of prostate cancers in therapeutic responses.
This time every type of cancer is so spreading and dangerous.