THE ROLE OF MOTILITY PROTEINS AND METASTASIS-SUPPRESSOR GENES IN PROSTATE-CANCER PROGRESSION

In 1996, an estimated 317,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be dia gnosed in the United States, The incidence of prostate cancer has more than doubled in the past five years; in fact, it is estimated that ag gressive screening starting at age 50 could potentially identify 10,00 0,000 American men with histologically localized prostate cancer, In o rder to reduce deaths from prostate cancer, it is necessary not only t o diagnose but also to accurately predict the clinical course of an in dividual patient's cancer, thus allowing for more effectively directed treatment, Acquisition of metastatic ability is a well-recognized cri terion for the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, A number of molecula r and cellular changes associated with the malignant progression of pr ostate cancer have been identified, Certain of these changes may poten tially be used as markers for metastatic ability of histologically loc alized prostate cancer cells, This concise review will consider two pa rameters which are associated with the acquisition of metastatic abili ty: increased cellular motility and loss of metastasis-suppressor gene function, A link between these two parameters has been demonstrated a nd may contribute to the development of innovative approaches for pred icting the metastatic ability of individual tumors.