Caveolin-1 in prostate Cancer: Novel insights and therapeutic opportunities-A review.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies among men, affecting the patients' well-being and imposing a substantial burden on global healthcare systems. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying mechanisms of PCa initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance remain unclear. Consequently, the development of effective treatment and prevention strategies faces significant challenges. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), first identified as a key component of caveolae over four decades ago. Early research primarily focused on its role in cellular processes such as cholesterol homeostasis and signal transduction. Recent studies have uncovered the more intricate role of Cav-1 in cancer biology. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on Cav-1 in PCa, specifically focusing on available evidence and published trials. Cav-1 is implicated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment in PCa. It may interact with various signaling pathways, including phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, thereby regulating tumor cell behavior. Moreover, Cav-1 expression may be associated with the prognosis of patients with PCa and their response to certain therapies, suggesting that targeting Cav-1 is a potential treatment strategy for PCa.