Basic Insights into Tumor Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer, a prominent malignancy impacting men worldwide, is characterized by a dynamic and intricate interplay between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment. The unique signature of the malignant transformation process arose from the inherent specificity of the prostate tissue and its function in semen fluid production. Unlike other cancer types where the shift to glycolytic energy supply is a hallmark of the neoplastic alteration, prostate cancer operates on entirely opposing principles. Focused on citrate production for seminal fluid, normal prostate epithelial cells function in a reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) manner. In the process of neoplastic transformation, cells redirect citrate into the Krebs cycle, converting inefficient to energy-efficient metabolism. From tumor initiation to metastasis, the distinct tumor microenvironment (TME), constituted of cellular and noncellular components, shapes the process of malignant transformation, rendering it increasingly aggressive, with immune system cells playing a pivotal role in connecting all these stages. This review will comprehensively elaborate the sophisticated and dynamic communication, enormous cellular plasticity and tissue flexibility leading to successive modifications of all structures, and their profound influence on disease progression.