Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
12:13

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients

Published on: November 19, 2019

Oncogenic role of engrailed-2 (en-2) in prostate cancer cell growth and survival

Sudeep K Bose1, Rebecca S Bullard, Carlton D Donald

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), 165 Ashley Avenue, PO Box 250620, Charleston, SC-29425, U.S.A.

Translational Oncogenomics
|May 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Engrailed-2 (En-2) is over-expressed in prostate cancer, acting as an oncogene. Its regulation by PAX2 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth, offering a potential drug target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Prostate cancer is a leading cause of male cancer deaths in the US.
  • Molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer are not fully understood.
  • Identifying tumor-specific molecules is crucial for developing targeted cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Engrailed-2 (En-2) as a candidate oncogene in human prostate cancer.
  • To explore the relationship between En-2 and PAX2 transcription factor in prostate cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of En-2 expression in human prostate cancer versus normal cells.
  • Investigation of PAX2 modulation of EN2 expression.
  • RNA interference (siRNA) to down-regulate EN2 expression and assess its impact on PAX2 levels and cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • En-2 is significantly over-expressed in human prostate cancer cells compared to normal prostate epithelial cells.
  • PAX2 transcription factor positively modulates EN2 expression.
  • Down-regulation of EN2 via siRNA leads to decreased PAX2 expression.
  • Reducing EN2 expression dramatically inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • En-2 functions as a candidate oncogene in prostate cancer.
  • PAX2-regulated expression of En-2 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth.
  • En-2 represents a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer treatment.
Keywords:
EN2PAX2oncogeneprostate cancer

More Related Videos

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis06:48

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis

Published on: September 18, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...