Abstract
The molecular alterations leading to prostate carcinoma are still poorly understood. Prostate malignancy is multifactorial disease, contributing to the difficulties associated with determining underlying mechanisms.
Androgens and androgen receptor play a significant role in the development of prostatic carcinogenesis. Altered expression, polymorphism in the length of the CAG or GGC repeat of androgen receptor gene, and mutations of the androgen receptor may also be involved in the development and progression of the malignancy.
Androgens are capable of regulating genes that display altered expression in prostate cancer and function to promote the growth of the tumour. Androgen-regulated genes that may be involved in cell proliferation may act both directly and indirectly and in combination with an array of other molecules including co-activators, co-repressors, cytokines and growth factors.