Lysophosphatidic acid in prostate cancer progression

Human prostate cancer is a common cancer and the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer in American man. Although hormone therapy can successfully suppress tumor growth, cancer cells transform into hormone-refractory cells and adopt a highly malignant phenotype. Therefore, scientists are looking for better therapies for prostate cancer patients base on the characteristics of these cancer cells. Significant researches have found that the bioactive lipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) mediates prostate cancer progression including cell proliferation, survival, and migration. In this review, we summarize the pathological roles of LPA signals in prostate cancer. The characteristics of expression of LPA receptors and LPA-related enzymes in prostate cancer are also discussed. These reports suggest that targeting LPA signaling may develop as a novel therapy to against malignant prostate cancer in the future.