A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

SIX2 promotes cell plasticity via Wnt/β-catenin signalling in androgen receptor independent prostate cancer




AuthorsLeppänen, Noora; Kaljunen, Heidi; Takala, Eerika; Kaarijärvi, Roosa; Mäkinen, Petri I.; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo; Paatero, Ilkka; Paakinaho, Ville; Ketola, Kirsi

PublisherOxford University Press

Publication year2024

Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

Journal name in sourceNucleic acids research

Journal acronymNucleic Acids Res

Volume52

Issue10

First page 5610

Last page5623

ISSN0305-1048

eISSN1362-4962

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae206

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://academic.oup.com/nar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nar/gkae206/7637889?login=true

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387510483

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

The use of androgen receptor (AR) inhibitors in prostate cancer gives rise to increased cellular lineage plasticity resulting in resistance to AR-targeted therapies. In this study, we examined the chromatin landscape of AR-positive prostate cancer cells post-exposure to the AR inhibitor enzalutamide. We identified a novel regulator of cell plasticity, the homeobox transcription factor SIX2, whose motif is enriched in accessible chromatin regions after treatment. Depletion of SIX2 in androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells induced a switch from a stem-like to an epithelial state, resulting in reduced cancer-related properties such as proliferation, colony formation, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. These effects were mediated through the downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and subsequent reduction of nuclear β-catenin. Collectively, our findings provide compelling evidence that the depletion of SIX2 may represent a promising strategy for overcoming the cell plasticity mechanisms driving antiandrogen resistance in prostate cancer.


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