Molecular genetics of prostate cancer

The molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of pros tate cancer are poorly understood. Epidemiological studies have suggested t hat 5-10% of all prostate cancers are familial, and numerous chromosomal lo ci have been associated with prostate cancer in multicentre linkage studies , However, no putative susceptibility genes harboured in these chromosomal regions have thus far been identified. Several recurrent chromosomal altera tions in prostate cancer have been detected in comparative genomic hybridiz ation (CGH) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis, The target genes for many of these aberrations are still not known. It seems that the androgen receptor (AR) signalling pathway plays a crucial role in both early develop ment as well as in late progression of the disease, Both germ-line and soma tic genetic alterations in the AR gene have been demonstrated in prostate c ancer patients, The intention of this review is to summarize the current kn owledge of molecular mechanisms in the development of prostate cancer.