Neuroendocrine differentiation and hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

There is an intriguing link between differentiation of neuroendocrine cells and tumor progression in prostate cancer. Neuroendocrine differentiation appears to be associated with the androgen-independent state, for which there is currently no successful therapy. However, the role of the neuroendocrine cells is complex, both in the normal prostate and in the pathway toward malignancy. One important area of research is to investigate the hormones expressed by prostatic neuroendocrine cells and, in particular, to elucidate their significance to androgen independence. It is hoped that an understanding of the specific roles of hormones such as somatostatin, bombesin, and serotonin in prostate cancer may lead to improved therapeutic approaches.