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Updated: May 12, 2026

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Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
Published on: November 19, 2019
Androgen-responsive serum response factor target genes regulate prostate cancer cell migration.
Alissa R Verone1, Kelly Duncan, Alejandro Godoy
1Department of Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
Carcinogenesis
|April 12, 2013
Summary
Androgen receptor (AR) signaling drives prostate cancer (CaP) progression. This study reveals that Serum Response Factor (SRF) mediates AR
Area of Science:
- Molecular Oncology
- Cancer Cell Biology
- Prostate Cancer Research
Background:
- Prostate cancer (CaP) progression is driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling.
- The precise AR-dependent mechanisms underlying lethal CaP phenotypes remain unclear.
- A novel indirect AR signaling pathway mediated by Serum Response Factor (SRF) is linked to aggressive CaP and recurrence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of androgen-responsive SRF effector genes in controlling aggressive CaP cell behavior.
- To examine the contribution of calponin 2 (CNN2) and sidekick homolog 1 (SDK1) in CaP progression.
- To understand how SRF activity modulates CaP cell migration and morphology.
Main Methods:
- Verified AR and SRF dependency of CNN2 and SDK1 expression using androgens, antiandrogens, and siRNAs.
- Assessed androgen induction kinetics and SRF binding to regulatory regions in CaP models.
- Utilized small interfering RNA (siRNA) to modulate CNN2 and SDK1 expression and observed effects on CaP cell behavior.
Main Results:
- Deregulation of CNN2 or SDK1 did not impact CaP cell proliferation or apoptosis.
- CNN2 loss promoted cellular protrusions and increased CaP cell migration; SDK1 silencing caused cell rounding and reduced migration.
- Altered cell migration correlated with changes in β1-integrin expression, independent of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Conclusions:
- Individual androgen-responsive SRF target genes significantly influence CaP cell migration and morphology.
- Modulation of CaP cell behavior by SRF effectors like CNN2 and SDK1 offers potential therapeutic targets.
- Understanding AR and SRF signaling pathways is crucial for developing novel CaP treatments.
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