Androgens and growth factors in prostate cancer: a transgenic perspective

With the advent of transgenic technology, novel animal models are being dev eloped to facilitate prostate cancer research. The ability to perform genet ic perturbation studies in a temporally and spatially restricted manner has established a new paradigm for investigations of the molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation, progression and metastogenesis of prostate canc er. Using the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model we have begun to identify specific molecular events related to the emergen ce of the androgen-insensitive phenotype. In addition, a number of new mode ls have recently been generated to characterize how the deregulation of str omal to epithelial interactions mediated by polypeptide growth factor signa ling could facilitate transformation of the prostate. It is anticipated tha t these models and their successors will ultimately provide new molecular p athway-based strategies for the prevention, detection and treatment of pros tate cancer.