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Response of prostate cancer cells to peptide growth factors: transforming growth factor-beta.

The growth of human prostate cancer and its relationship to the surrounding stroma are controlled by complex mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Clearly, peptide growth factors appear to have crucial roles in these processes. One of these factors, TGF-beta, and its family members are notable for their wide spectrum of biological effects. In terms of growth, TGF-beta inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells in a cytostatic fashion while stimulating the growth of critical stromal cells, such as fibroblasts. Since the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on prostate cancer cells appear to diminish as the process of transformation progresses towards less differentiated states, the net effect on prostate tumour growth may be positive. Recent evidence suggests that the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on growth, at least, might be mediated through the RB tumour suppressor gene product and the proto-oncogene c-myc. Beyond its direct growth effects, TGF-beta also alters the response of prostate cancer cells to positive mitogenic factors, such as members of the EGF and FGF families, suggesting that growth control is a delicate balance between positive and negative influences. Non-mitogenic responses to TGF-beta by prostate cancer cells, the immune system, the stroma and the vascular system provide evidence that TGF-beta might also be important in the processes of carcinogenesis, tumour establishment and metastases. In addition, TGF-beta appears to influence metabolic pathways important to drug metabolism and steroidogenesis. In vivo, limited evidence suggests that TGF-beta can alter the growth and differentiation of some tumour types but appears to be very toxic when administered in high doses. A better understanding of the response of prostate cancer cells to members of the TGF-beta family may open new avenues of treating and controlling this disease.