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Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2004; 2: 2.
Published online 2004 January 7. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-2-2.
PMCID: PMC320496
Changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) and ECM-associated proteins in the metastatic progression of prostate cancer
Delisha A Stewart,1 Carlton R Cooper,2 and Robert A Sikescorresponding author1
1Laboratory for Cancer Ontogeny and Therapeutics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
2Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
Delisha A Stewart: dstewart/at/udel.edu; Carlton R Cooper: crcooper/at/UDel.Edu; Robert A Sikes: rasikes/at/udel.edu
Received July 28, 2003; Accepted January 7, 2004.
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is no exception to the multi-step process of metastasis. As PCa progresses, changes occur within the microenvironments of both the malignant cells and their targeted site of metastasis, enabling the necessary responses that result in successful translocation. The majority of patients with progressing prostate cancers develop skeletal metastases. Despite advancing efforts in early detection and management, there remains no effective, long-term cure for metastatic PCa. Therefore, the elucidation of the mechanism of PCa metastasis and preferential establishment of lesions in bone is an intensive area of investigation that promises to generate new targets for therapeutic intervention. This review will survey what is currently know concerning PCa interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the roles of factors within the tumor and ECM microenvironments that contribute to metastasis. These will be discussed within the context of changes in expression and functional heterodimerization patterns of integrins, changes in ECM expression and reorganization by proteases facilitating invasion. In this context we also provide a brief summary of how growth factors (GFs), cytokines and regulatory signaling pathways favor PCa metastasis to bone.