The role of cyclic AMP in regulating the androgen receptor

The androgen receptor (AR) is suggested to play a predominant role in the recurrence of prostate cancer in patients receiving androgen ablation therapy. In the absence of androgens, the AR is activated by compounds that increase cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and stimulate cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity in prostate cancer cells. Thus cross-talk between AR and cAMP/PKA pathways is suspected to be involved in the mechanism underlying castration-recurrent prostate cancer. Elucidation of the molecular mechanism(s) of how the AR can be activated by alternative pathways such as cAMP/PKA in the absence of androgen may yield new therapeutic targets for the improved clinical management of advanced prostate cancer. © 2009 Springer-Verlag New York.