In conclusion, distinct prostatic tumour models and material (cell-lines derived from human tumours, transgenic mouse tumours and patient samples) all display the hallmarks of neural transdifferentiation during the progression to metastatic disease which was associated with a change in the balance of activity and expression in favour of activator-type bHLH transcription factors including Hes6 and Ascl1. The gene discussed is ASCL1; the disease is metastatic neoplasm.