Genetic and epigenetic features of neuroendocrine prostate cancer and their emerging applications

Int Rev Cell Mol Biol. 2024;383:41-66. doi: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.06.002. Epub 2023 Jul 7.ABSTRACTProstate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men globally. De novo neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is uncommon at initial diagnosis, however, (treatment-induced) t-NEPC emerges in up to 25% of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) cases treated with androgen deprivation, carrying a drastically poor prognosis. The transition from PRAD to t-NEPC is underpinned by several key genetic mutations; TP53, RB1, and MYCN are the main genes implicated, bearing similarities to other neuroendocrine tumours. A broad range of epigenetic alterations, such as aberrations in DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and non-coding RNAs, may drive lineage plasticity from PRAD to t-NEPC. The clinical diagnosis of NEPC is hampered by a lack of accessible biomarkers; recent advances in liquid biopsy techniques assessing circulating tumour cells and ctDNA in NEPC suggest that the advent of non-invasive means of monitoring progression to NEPC is on the horizon. Such techniques are vital for NEPC management; diagnosis of t-NEPC is crucial for implementing effective treatment, and precision medicine will be integral to providing the best outcomes for patients.PMID:38359970 | DOI:10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.06.002
Source: International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology - Category: Cytology Authors: Source Type: research