Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.0
3.4
Journals
Life
Special Issues
Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition
share announcement

Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 6787

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Paula Oliveira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
2. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: animal models; in vivo studies; natural compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Faustino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Zootechnics, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
2. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: veterinary medicine; experimental animal models; anti-inflammatory drugs; physical exercise; tumor angiogenesis; lymphangiogenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are grateful to the researchers who contributed to the first, second and third volumes of this Special Issue:

Prostate Cancer: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/pros_can

Prostate Cancer: 2nd Edition: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/Z5E9V92OYG

Prostate Cancer: 3rd Edition: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/3R8S8NX46G

We are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of our Special Issue, entitled “Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition".

The prostate is the largest accessory gland of the male reproductive tract. Together with seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands, the prostate is responsible for the production of an alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid. The prostates of men over 40 years of age are commonly affected by several pathologies, such as benign prostate hyperplasia and cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently occurring cancers among the male population worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the year 2020 saw prostate cancer affect approximately 1.41 million men and be responsible for the deaths of 375,304 of them. Prostate cancer development is associated with several risk factors, including older age, African ancestry, a family history of the disease, an increased body mass index, and obesity. The risk of prostate cancer development may be reduced through the consumption of a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, physical exercise, and maintenance of a healthy weight.

Despite several approaches being available for prostate cancer treatment, the number of prostate cancer deaths is continuously increasing. This emphasizes the need to search for new methods for precocious diagnosis and more effective treatment. Animal models, including rodents, have greatly contributed to the study of biopathology and the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

This Special Issue, entitled “Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition”, aims to publish original research works and reviews concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of prostate cancer, highlighting new advances in this field.

Prof. Dr. Paula Oliveira
Dr. Ana Faustino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • incidence
  • mortality
  • diagnosis
  • histopathology
  • imaging
  • treatment
  • prognosis
  • case report
  • animals
  • humans
  • modeling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 3327 KB  
Article
Non-Coding RNA Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer: Evidence Mapping and In Silico Characterization
by Lorena Albarracín-Navas, Nicolás I. Lara-Salas, Javier H. Alarcon-Roa, Maylin Almonte-Becerril, Enmanuel Guerrero and Ángela L. Riffo-Campos
Life 2026, 16(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010095 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 769
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa), yet evidence remains dispersed across heterogeneous studies and their regulatory context is seldom analyzed in an integrated manner. This study systematically maps ncRNAs reported as diagnostic biomarkers for PCa and characterizes [...] Read more.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa), yet evidence remains dispersed across heterogeneous studies and their regulatory context is seldom analyzed in an integrated manner. This study systematically maps ncRNAs reported as diagnostic biomarkers for PCa and characterizes their molecular interactions through in silico analyses. A comprehensive evidence-mapping strategy across major bibliographic databases identified 693 studies, of which 58 met eligibility criteria. Differentially expressed ncRNAs were extracted and classified by RNA type. Subsequently, miRNA–target prediction, miRNA–protein interaction network construction, and functional enrichment analyses were performed to explore the regulatory landscape of miRNA-associated proteins. Results: The final dataset included 4500 participants (2871 PCa cases and 2093 controls) and reported 94 differentially expressed miRNAs, eight lncRNAs, and several circRNAs, snoRNAs, snRNAs, and piRNAs. In silico analyses predicted 13,493 miRNA–mRNA interactions converging on 4916 unique target genes, with an additional 2481 prostate tissue-specific targets. The miRNA–protein network comprised 845 nodes and 2335 edges, revealing highly connected miRNAs (e.g., hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-20a-5p) and protein hubs (QKI, YOD1, TBL1XR1; prostate-specific CDK6, ACVR2B). Enrichment analysis showed strong overrepresentation of metabolic process-related GO terms and cancer-associated KEGG pathways. Conclusions: These findings refine the list of promising ncRNA biomarkers and highlight candidates for future clinical validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2111 KB  
Article
A Feasibility Study of Co-Established Patient-Derived Subcutaneous Xenograft and Organotypic Slice Cultures in Hormone-Naive Primary Prostate Cancer Preclinical Modeling: A Single-Institution Experience
by Valeria Pecci, Melissa Borsa, Aurora Aiello, Sara De Martino, Luca Cis, Francesco Pierconti, Domenico Varacalli, Martina Bracco, Cristian Ripoli, Francesco Pinto, Dante Rotili, Claudio Grassi, Carlo Gaetano, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Antonella Farsetti and Simona Nanni
Life 2025, 15(11), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15111719 - 6 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2878
Abstract
Background: Preclinical models that preserve the tumor microenvironment are critically needed in prostate cancer (PCa) research. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and patient-derived Organotypic Slice Cultures (PD-OSCs) have emerged as promising in vivo and ex vivo platforms to address this gap and better mimic human [...] Read more.
Background: Preclinical models that preserve the tumor microenvironment are critically needed in prostate cancer (PCa) research. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and patient-derived Organotypic Slice Cultures (PD-OSCs) have emerged as promising in vivo and ex vivo platforms to address this gap and better mimic human tumor biology. Methods: Subcutaneous PDX models and PD-OSCs were established in parallel from fresh, primary hormone-naïve PCa patient tissues. PDX models were generated by engrafting tumor fragments into immunodeficient mice, while PD-OSCs were maintained as short-term ex vivo cultures for functional analysis. Results: A cohort of 64 PDXs and 45 PD-OSCs was generated. While first-generation PDX engraftment was successful, subsequent passaging and model expansion were extremely poor. In contrast, PD-OSCs were reliably established, maintained tissue viability, and proved to be a robust platform for functional testing, including gene expression analysis and drug sensitivity screening. Conclusions: Our findings establish both first-generation PDXs and PD-OSCs as valuable “avatar” models for translational research. However, PD-OSCs represent a more efficient and rapid platform for studying primary hormone-naïve PCa biology and evaluating treatment responses, holding significant promise as a predictive tool to guide personalized medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 786 KB  
Communication
Local Therapy Can Enhance the Prognosis of Certain Patients with Pathologically Diagnosed Neuroendocrine Prostate Carcinoma
by Shoichi Kimura, Naoki Terada, Shinnya Soumiya, Takayuki Goto, Hiromitsu Negoro, Shoichiro Mukai, Osamu Ogawa, Shusuke Akamatsu, Takashi Kobayashi, Atsuro Sawada and Toshiyuki Kamoto
Life 2025, 15(5), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050797 - 17 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1710
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) has a poor prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of the factors contributing to survival in patients with histologically diagnosed NEPC. Patients pathologically diagnosed with NEPC between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS) from the time [...] Read more.
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) has a poor prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of the factors contributing to survival in patients with histologically diagnosed NEPC. Patients pathologically diagnosed with NEPC between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS) from the time of the initial prostate cancer diagnosis was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to evaluate the association of OS with variables including the presence of metastasis, receipt of local therapy, and disease classification (primary NEPC [p-NEPC] or treatment-related NEPC [t-NEPC]). Among 32 patients (p-NEPC, 22; t-NEPC, 10), distant metastases were identified in 25 (78%) patients, and local therapies including radical prostatectomy and local radiotherapy were provided to 21 (66%) patients. In the univariate Cox proportional hazard analyses, patients who received local therapy had a significantly lower risk of death than those who did not receive local therapy (hazard ratio = 0.284, 95% confidence interval = 0.109–0.738, p = 0.01). OS was significantly longer for patients receiving local therapy than for those who did not receive local therapy (36 months vs. 13 months, p = 0.0058). Our findings suggest the potential benefit of local therapy in the treatment of NEPC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 1264 KB  
Review
In Vivo Prostate Cancer Modelling: From the Pre-Clinical to the Clinical Setting
by Elisabete Nascimento-Gonçalves, Tiago Azevedo, Catarina Medeiros and Ana I. Faustino-Rocha
Life 2026, 16(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010111 - 13 Jan 2026
Viewed by 771
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most prevalent malignancies in men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Over the last century, PCa modelling has evolved from basic cell-based to more complex systems. Despite this, the clinical translation of research findings [...] Read more.
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most prevalent malignancies in men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Over the last century, PCa modelling has evolved from basic cell-based to more complex systems. Despite this, the clinical translation of research findings is limited by the constraints of current preclinical models. In this review, rat and zebrafish models are highlighted due to their long-standing and emerging translational relevance, respectively. Rat models have played a pivotal role in understanding carcinogenesis and supporting the preclinical evaluation of drugs currently approved for clinical use, such as antiandrogens and androgen-deprivation agents. In parallel, zebrafish models are increasingly recognized as powerful complementary tools for studying tumor biology, metastasis, and drug response, offering unique advantages for high-throughput and personalized medicine approaches. We summarize historical milestones, current advances, and translational perspectives, emphasizing how combining multiple model systems can bridge the gap between molecular research and clinical application. Collectively, the development and refinement of these models represent essential steps toward more predictive and ethically responsible PCa research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prostate Cancer: 4th Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop