TGF-β signalling and immunity in prostate tumourigenesis

Abstract

Importance of the field: The TGF-β's are pleiotropic cytokines that regulate multiple cellular functions. Their role in the prostate is important for normal prostate development and also in prostate tumourigenesis.

Areas covered in this review: The interactions TGF-β-mediated signalling has with maintaining prostate health, as well as its role in prostate tumourigenesis and prostate tumour immune evasion, with emphasis on how a breakdown in these interactions may influence disease progression.

What the reader will gain: That TGF-β influences normal prostate growth and differentiation by regulating the balance between epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, and involving the androgen receptor pathway. That TGF-β protects and maintains prostate stem cells and a review of the contrasting role TGF-β has in prostate tumourigenesis and tumour development, where TGF-β acts as a tumour suppressor and then switches roles to become a tumour promoter, and creates a local immunosuppressive niche leading to systemic tumour tolerance.

Take home message: TGF-β signalling in prostate cancer is a valid target for the treatment of this disease; however any therapeutic regimen will require an understanding of all aspects of the TGF-β-signalling nexus, otherwise by the very pleiotrophic nature of TGF-β, limited clinical benefits may result.

Keywords::

• androgen receptor
• immunosuppression
• prostate cancer
• stem cells
• TGF-β

Notes

This box summarises keypoints contained in the article.