Cell-of-origin as a route to understand the onset of aggressive prostate tumours
Esther Baena
Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester
The biological properties of cancers are defined by cell intrinsic features of their cell-of-origin and the activation of oncogenes or depletion of tumour suppressors. Stemness and high plasticity are characteristics of tissue stem and progenitor cells, relevant not only for de-differentiation into malignant tissues, but also for tissue homeostasis. By functional characterisation of prostate stem cells, in particular in intrinsic properties contributing to the survival of androgen-deprivation and therapy resistance, we have defined how intrinsic properties and acquired genetic perturbations contribute to cancer opening new routes to target aggressive prostate tumours.