ERG Induces Androgen Receptor-Mediated Regulation of SOX9 in Prostate Cancer

    February 2013 in “ ˜The œJournal of clinical investigation/˜The œjournal of clinical investigation ”
    Changmeng Cai, Hongyun Wang, Housheng Hansen He, Sen Chen, Lingfeng He, Fen Ma, Lorelei A. Mucci, Qianben Wang, Christopher Fiore, Adam G. Sowalsky, Massimo Loda, X. Shirley Liu, Myles Brown, Steven P. Balk, Xin Yuan
    TLDR ERG increases SOX9, promoting prostate cancer growth and invasion.
    The study investigated the role of ERG in androgen receptor (AR)-mediated regulation of SOX9 in prostate cancer (PCa). Researchers found that ERG, expressed from the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene, enhanced AR signaling, leading to increased SOX9 expression, which was linked to tumor invasion and growth. This mechanism was specific to TMPRSS2:ERG fusion-positive PCa cells. SOX9 overexpression resulted in neoplasia and stimulated tumor invasion, while SOX9 depletion impaired these processes. The study concluded that SOX9 is a critical downstream effector of ERG in fusion-positive PCa, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for managing the disease.
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