FOXA1 transcriptionally up-regulates cyclin B1 expression to enhance chondrosarcoma progression

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant and common bone tumor that is highly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. At this moment, amputation surgery is the only option which unfortunately has serious impact to daily lives of the patients. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand causative molecular mechanisms underlying the disease for more accurate prognosis and more effective targeted treatment. In the current study, we identify the transcription factor FOXA1 through cDNA microarray screening comparing normal versus chondrosarcoma cells and investigate the mechanisms underlying its function in chondrosarcoma development. We show that FOXA1 enhances expression of the cyclin B1 gene, which in turn drives cell cycle progression through G2-M transition thus promotes cell cycle progression of chondrosarcoma cells.