The role of P21/Cdc42/Rac1-activated kinases (PAK) in prostate cancer.

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Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the West. It is initially treatable with androgen deprivation therapy but eventually progresses to become insensitive to the treatment we have. The next stage is to have chemotherapy, which gives an average survival of between 10 and 20 months. We know that the main receptor responsible for prostate cancer growth (androgen receptor) has an effect on the different cell signaling pathways within the cell, particularly those involved in cell growth and cell movement. New links have shown one of the ways this relationship occurs is through energy regulating pathways. What we are aiming to do is to show a link between the energy regulating pathways and cell growth and cell movement. The aim is to concentrate on one of these mechanisms - the Rac1/PAK1 pathway - and determine its role in prostate cancer growth and metastasis. We know that more aggressive prostate cancers have higher levels of Rac1 and PAK1 but we do not yet know what their role is in the development of prostate cancer or its effect on cancer growth and spread. We aim to find out the mechanisms by which it works and the pathways that regulate it. This will initially be in the laboratory in cells but also on human tissue from specimens. The aim is to eventually discover new targets for the development of new medicines to help control prostate cancer.