Molecular alterations during progression of prostate cancer to androgen independence

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongmen in North America and is a leading cause of death. Standard treatments include androgen deprivation therapy, which leads to im-proved clinical outcomes. However, over time, most tumors become androgen independent and no longer respond to hormonal therapies. Several mechanisms have been implicated in the progression of prostate cancer to androgen independence. CONTENT: Most tumors that have become androgen in-dependent still rely on androgen receptor (AR) signal-ing. Mechanisms that enhance AR signaling in androgen-depleted conditions include: AR gene ampli-fication, AR mutations, changes in the balance of AR cofactors, increases in steroidogenic precursors, an