Steroid Hormones Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer.

This study aimed to assess the role of steroid hormones, well-known modulators of the crosstalk between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and immune activity, in the tumor micro- environment (TME) of prostate cancer (PC). It was hypothesized that DHEA / CORT receptor density within the TME would be positively associated with anti-tumor activity and negatively with immunosuppressive cell activity. Preliminary results showed that IL-6 immunoactivity was related to both DHEA and CORT levels in the TME. It was also found that patients with non- metastatic PC had a significantly higher DHEA / CORT ratio and reported a better quality of life (QoL). The levels of DHEA were also associated with QoL. Taken together, this study showed that the density of the IL-2, IL-6, and DHEA receptors expressed around the tumor can give us a reliable index of the TME’s influence on PC. Considering the pressing need to find cost-effective natural treatments for skyrocketing health costs in a progressively aging population, our results could inform future translational research on how improving emotional resilience can increase cancer survivorship.