Aquaporins as Prognostic Biomarker in Prostate Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane channel proteins that primarily transport water across the cellular membranes. AQPs have been found to be overexpressed in various human cancers, including prostate cancer. Clinical data suggest ideal prospects for AQPs as biomarkers. This review article mainly focuses on the opportunities for the development of AQPs as prognostic markers in prostate cancer. ABSTRACT: Prostate cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease that affects millions of males worldwide. Despite rapid advances in molecular biology and innovation in technology, few biomarkers have been forthcoming in prostate cancer. The currently available biomarkers for the prognosis of prostate cancer are inadequate and face challenges, thus having limited clinical utility. To date, there are a number of prognostic and predictive biomarkers identified for prostate cancer but lack specificity and sensitivity to guide clinical decision making. There is still tremendous scope for specific biomarkers to understand the natural history and complex biology of this heterogeneous disease, and to identify early treatment responses. Accumulative studies indicate that aquaporins (AQPs) a family of membrane water channels may serve as a prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer in monitoring disease advancement. In the present review, we discuss the existing prostate cancer biomarkers, their limitations, and aquaporins as a prospective biomarker of prognostic significance in prostate cancer.