The T-box transcription factor, TBX3, is sufficient to promote melanoma formation and invasion

The T-box transcription factor, TBX3, is overexpressed in several cancers and has been proposed as a chemotherapeutic target. Several lines of evidence suggest that TBX3 may be a key contributor to malignant melanoma, a highly aggressive and intractable disease. Using in vitro and in vivo assays we demonstrate here for the first time that overexpressing TBX3 in non-tumourigenic early stage melanoma cells is sufficient to promote tumour formation and invasion. Furthermore, we show that TBX3 may play an important role as a reciprocal switch between substrate dependent cell proliferation and tumour invasion.