Cancer stem cell plasticity in shaping drug resistance landscapes in prostate cancer

This review integrates contemporary knowledge regarding the identity and cellular plasticity of prostate stem cell subpopulations across physiological and pathological contexts, encompassing prostate development, tissue homeostasis, inflammatory responses, and oncogenesis. These stem cells demonstrate critical adaptability to microenvironmental challenges, underpinning essential functions in epithelial regeneration, neoplastic initiation, and tumor evolution. Significantly, their capacity to dynamically reprogram cellular fate trajectories has been shown to fundamentally underpin mechanisms of therapeutic evasion, fostering the emergence of treatment resistance. Collectively, these insights position the molecular targeting of prostate stem cells as a novel therapeutic paradigm for managing advanced prostate malignancies.