Identification of c-kit in prostate epithelial stem cells

What is it about?

Transformed normal stem cells may be responsible for prostate cancer-initiation and re-growth in castration-resistant disease. Our knowledge regarding normal prostate cell regulation, self-renewal, and cytodifferentiation is presently rather limited. In this study, we investigated these processes in the normal adult human prostate, and identified several putative prostate stem cell markers, including c-kit.

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Why is it important?

This is the first study to identify that c-Kit tyrosine kinase receptors and its ligand SCF is expressed in prostate epithelial stem cells, and also to describe a novel prostate mesenchymal progenitor/stem cell phenotype in the stromal compartment of the prostate.