Cell-of-origin as a route to understand the onset of aggressive prostate tumours

The biological properties of cancers are defined by cell intrinsic features of their cell-of-origin and the activation of oncogenes or depletion of tumour suppressors. Stemness and high plasticity are characteristics of tissue stem and progenitor cells, relevant not only for de-differentiation into malignant tissues, but also for tissue homeostasis. By functional characterisation of prostate stem cells, in particular in intrinsic properties contributing to the survival of androgen-deprivation and therapy resistance, we have defined how intrinsic properties and acquired genetic perturbations contribute to cancer opening new routes to target aggressive prostate tumours.