ABSTRACT
Mutation or deletion of either proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes may confer the potential for uncontrolled cell division and local growth but, for metastasis to occur, several further mutations are probably necessary. In the normal prostate, epithelial cells are tightly bound to one another by cell adhesion molecules, such as E-cadherin which is linked intracellularly to α-catenin. Deletion of the gene encoding either of these important proteins may facilitate the metastatic process by allowing malignant cells to migrate into the lymphatics and blood-stream (Figure 21). Loss of E-cadherin-staining in prostate cancer specimens appears to be strongly correlated with the subsequent development of metastases and is associated with a poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients.
