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Updated: May 20, 2026
10:38
Evaluating the Differentiation Capacity of Mouse Prostate Epithelial Cells Using Organoid Culture
Published on: November 22, 2019
Sox9 is required for prostate development and prostate cancer initiation.
Zhenhua Huang1, Paula J Hurley, Brian W Simons
1Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Oncotarget
|July 5, 2012
Summary
The transcription factor Sox9 is crucial for initiating prostate development and preventing prostate cancer in mice. Targeting Sox9 could offer new strategies for prostate cancer chemoprevention.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Developmental biology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men.
- Complex molecular mechanisms drive prostate carcinogenesis.
- Reexpression of developmental programs is implicated in cancer initiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the transcription factor Sox9 in prostate organogenesis and carcinogenesis.
- To elucidate the conserved functions of Sox9 in murine models.
Main Methods:
- Conditional gene targeting in mice.
- Organ grafting techniques.
- Genetic models of prostate cancer (TRAMP and Hi-Myc).
- Expression profiling of Sox9-null prostate epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- Sox9 is essential for initiating prostate development, as its abrogation blocks development before androgen signaling.
- Sox9 deletion prevents cancer initiation in TRAMP and Hi-Myc mouse models.
- Sox9 regulates cytokeratins and cell adherence/polarity during prostate development.
Conclusions:
- Sox9 plays a conserved role in both prostate organogenesis and carcinogenesis initiation.
- Sox9's function in development is linked to regulating cytokeratins and cell polarity.
- Targeting Sox9 pathways may be a viable strategy for prostate cancer chemoprevention.
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