Androgen Receptor Structure and Function in Prostate Cancer

摘要: Androgens have diverse biological functions, playing a critical role during sexual development and in subsequent life to develop maintain male secondary sex tissues. Like the normal prostate, prostate cancers (PRCA) are initially dependent on androgens for their growth, androgen ablation or hormonal therapy remains major form of systemic treatment patients with metastatic disease. Although an initial response rate 70-80% is observed following initiation therapy, progression almost invariably occurs rapidly, less than 20% surviving 5 years (1). Nevertheless, precise mechanisms involved escape from androgenic control poorly characterized. Alterations one more determinants activity could contribute unresponsiveness conventional therapies: (a) cellular bioavailability potent metabolite testosterone, 5α- dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), (b) level structure receptor (AR), (c) expression profile specific cofactor molecules (Figure 1). This paper focuses AR function PRCA, particular emphasis contribution structural alterations failure therapies.