Research Progress on the Mechanism of Androgen Receptor Signaling Pathway in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer (Pca) remains the most common malignancy worldwide in men, and the second leading cause of mortality only to lung cancer. Besides surgery, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a major treatment for Pca. However, ADT leads to the inevitable progression of castration-resistant Pca (CRPC). The transition from hormone-dependent Pca (ADPC) to CRPC has been shown to involve reactivation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The evidence become strong that Pca develop adaptive mechanisms for maintaining AR signaling to allow for survival and further evolution. This article mainly reviews the research progress of the mechanism(s) of AR signaling in CRPC and provides scientific basis and new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of this phenotype.