Characteristics of Prostate Cancer:

• Chromosomal abnormalities:

  • Deletions or mutations in chromosomal segments
  • Tumor suppressor gene alterations

    • Loss of p53 or RB function linked to cancer development.
  • Variable length of the CAG repeat in hAR gene

    • hAR = human androgen receptor
  • Loss or methylation of promoter regions

• Telomerase: no correlation has been found between the level of telomerase activity and Gleason score or PSA level.

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• Like other cancers, PC arises from a series of genetic alterations.

• The hAR is a protein that binds androgens and translocates them to the nucleus to eventually induce the transcription of certain genes.

• CAG repeats: elimination of repeats increased transcriptional activity of hAR. The CAG repeat sequence inhibits transcription of hAR. Fewer CAG repeats correlates with a higher incidence and mortality from prostate cancer.
  • Asian men _ more repeats
  • African American men _ less repeats