Models for Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Translational research examining the progression and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is benefited significantly from the availability of models that faithfully mimic the in vivo disease. It is advantageous if the model system maximally recapitulates the myriad complex relationships that contribute towards prostate carcinogenesis. These include hormonal and genetic status of the host, immune response to the tumour, environmental and dietary influences, tumour epithelial and stromal interactions, local and systemic influences in the host including, the tumour tissue type, adjacent tissues, and metastatic preferences. The currently available models of prostate cancer have been divided as those that are influenced by, or are independent of, the immune systems of the hosts. The final section describes models that have specifically attempted to address bone metastasis in prostate cancer. These model systems are of paramount importance in the study of the biology of prostate cancer and to help develop new therapeutic strategies to fight the various “biologic states” of prostate cancer.