Molecular Mechanisms in Prostatic Carcinogenesis

In the developed world, environmental factors-particularly diet-seem to play a prominent role in the development of prostate cancer.27 Research into the molecular pathogenesis of prostate cancer may help us assess why prostate cells are particularly vulnerable to such environmental effects and to determine what somatic genome mutations are involved in the transformation of normal epithelium into intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and ultimately to invasive carcinoma (Figure 5).