Osteoblast-derived factors induce an expression signature that identifies prostate cancer metastasis and hormonal progression.

Identification of gene expression signatures associated with metastases provides a tool to discern mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets and may lead toward a molecular classification system in pathology. Prostate cancer (CaP) frequently metastasizes to the bone to form osteoblastic lesions. Correlative clinical data and in vitro evidence have led to the hypothesis that osteoblast-derived factors promote hormonal progression of CaP cells.

Osteoblast-derived factors induce androgen-independent proliferation and expression of prostate-specific antigen in human prostate cancer cells.

Purpose: Prostate cancer metastasizes to the skeleton to form osteoblastic lesions. Androgen ablation is the current treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. This therapy is palliative, and the disease will return in an androgen-independent form that is preceded by a rising titer of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).