RISING STARS: Heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment in neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer, generally arising late in the disease trajectory, is a heterogeneous subtype that infers a worse prognosis and limited treatment options for patients. Characterization of the complex landscape of this disease subtype and scrutiny of the relationship between tumor cells and cells of the surrounding tumor microenvironment have aided in elucidating some of the mechanisms of neuroendocrine disease biology and have uncovered a multitude of signaling pathways involved in disease transdifferentiation under therapeutic selection. In this review, we discuss current efforts to better understand the heterogeneous landscape of neuroendocrine prostate cancer and summarize research efforts to define the interplay between tumor cells and the microenvironment, with an emphasis on the immune component. Research efforts have uncovered several potential therapeutic approaches that may improve disease outcomes for patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine prostate cancer, including the potential for combination immunotherapies. However, additional research is required to fully address and exploit the contribution of tumor cell and microenvironment heterogeneity in developing effective treatment strategies.

Automated summary

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer is a heterogeneous subtype with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The study of tumor microenvironment and signaling pathways has provided insights into the biology of this subtype and suggested potential therapeutic approaches, including combination immunotherapies. However, further research is needed to fully understand and exploit the heterogeneity of tumor cells and the microenvironment for effective treatment strategies.