The functional role of aldehyde dehydrogenases(ALDHs)in prostate cancer remains an area of some controversy.Many studies have used high ALDH functional activity to isolate putative cancer stem cells with tumour-initia...The functional role of aldehyde dehydrogenases(ALDHs)in prostate cancer remains an area of some controversy.Many studies have used high ALDH functional activity to isolate putative cancer stem cells with tumour-initiating and propagating properties,while evidence is also emerging about the involvement of specific isoforms in migration,invasiveness and metastasis.Identification of specific ALDH isoforms,which contribute to both drug resistance and aggressiveness of the disease remains a challenge within the complex heterogeneity of prostate cancer.The purpose of this perspective is to dissect functional roles for ALDH in the tumour microenvironment and to evaluate the potential of the ALDH gene family as biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic intervention.展开更多
基金We wish to acknowledge Prostate Cancer UK(RIA15-ST2-022&PhD grant S12-027)for finan cial support and sponsorship,and Yaqeen Sawalha for producing figures for this manuscript.
文摘The functional role of aldehyde dehydrogenases(ALDHs)in prostate cancer remains an area of some controversy.Many studies have used high ALDH functional activity to isolate putative cancer stem cells with tumour-initiating and propagating properties,while evidence is also emerging about the involvement of specific isoforms in migration,invasiveness and metastasis.Identification of specific ALDH isoforms,which contribute to both drug resistance and aggressiveness of the disease remains a challenge within the complex heterogeneity of prostate cancer.The purpose of this perspective is to dissect functional roles for ALDH in the tumour microenvironment and to evaluate the potential of the ALDH gene family as biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic intervention.