Cancer Biology & Therapy

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy among men affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease with a wide range of clinical outcomes. Further, it also disproportionately affects men of certain ethnic and racial backgrounds, who experience greater tumor burden and mortality. Most prostate cancer patients are diagnosed early due to widespread screening and may have an indolent disease with a low tendency to progress. However, a significant proportion of prostate cancer patients present with an aggressive disease at the time of diagnosis that has either already metastasized or has a high risk of faster progression and recurrence following primary therapy.

The process of prostate tumor initiation and progression is very complex, involving multiple genetic and epigenetic changes in the tumor cells. In addition, tumor microenvironment (TME) also plays a significant role in disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, understanding the complex interplay of signaling mechanisms and tumor-stromal crosstalk is essential for developing novel effective treatments for potentially lethal prostate cancer. Such efforts can also lead to the identification of novel biomarkers that can be used to discriminate indolent versus aggressive disease and thus help in improved treatment planning and avoid unnecessary treatment.

This Article Collection invites original research and review articles focusing on prostate tumor heterogeneity, mechanisms underlying prostate cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance, and the role of TME in disease outcomes. Further, articles focusing on identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers would also be welcome.

About the Guest Advisors:

Dr. Ajay Singh is a Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. He also holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He is a senior member of the Mitchell Cancer Institute, where he leads a Program in Cancer Biology and Cancer Health Disparities. As the Director of the Tumor Microenvironment Laboratory, he focuses on the impact of the tumor microenvironment on the functioning of the tumor cells at the molecular level. He has published extensively and has received funding from major federal agencies, including NIH, DOD, NSF, and state health departments.

Dr. Seema Singh is a Professor of Pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, holding an adjunct appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is also a senior member of the Mitchell Cancer Institute, where she heads the Inflammation and Immunobiology laboratory. Her major research interests are to understand host-tumor interactions and their roles in cancer pathobiology. She is also trying to define the impact of social and behavioral factors on tumor biology and immunology. Her research has been funded through NIH/NCI, and she has published extensively in the relevant area of research.

If you have any questions about submitting to this Article Collection, please contact commissioning editor Dr. Cassie Houtz at: [email protected].

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