Role of androgen receptors in pathogenesis of prostate cancer
Historical background on studying the relationship between activity of endocrine system in men and pathogenesis of prostate cancer is given in this review. A pathway by which androgens influence prostatic adenocarcinoma cells is described, as well as basic theories, which suggest how castration-resistant forms of this tumor develop. Main strategies of influencing androgen receptor to maintain optimal control of the disease are presented. Relationship between prostate cancer, hypothalamic-hypophy- seal-gonadal axis and hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal axis is demonstrated via illustrations.