Noncoding mutations target cis-regulatory elements of the FOXA1 plexus in prostate cancer

Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 23;11(1):441. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14318-9.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men worldwide. Recurrently mutated in primary and metastatic prostate tumors, FOXA1 encodes a pioneer transcription factor involved in disease onset and progression through both androgen receptor-dependent and androgen receptor-independent mechanisms. Despite its oncogenic properties however, the regulation of FOXA1 expression remains unknown. Here, we identify a set of six cis-regulatory elements in the FOXA1 regulatory plexus harboring somatic single-nucleotide variants in primary prostate tumors. We find that deletion and repression of these cis-regulatory elements significantly decreases FOXA1 expression and prostate cancer cell growth. Six of the ten single-nucleotide variants mapping to FOXA1 regulatory plexus significantly alter the transactivation potential of cis-regulatory elements by modulating the binding of transcription factors. Collectively, our results identify cis-regulatory elements within the FOXA1 plexus mutated in primary prostate tumors as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • FOXA1 protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha
  • Transcription Factors

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