In order to design effective therapies for prostate cancer, a clear understanding of mechanisms that contribute to various components of prostate cancer progression is necessary. Study of metastasis suppressor genes, i.e., genes that can inhibit metastasis, is an important field of study that can lead to identification of therapeutic targets to diminish metastasis. E-cadherin has been implicated as an important inhibitor of metastasis. Thus, understanding how it is regulated may lead towards defining mechanism of metastasis suppressor activity. Through a series of studies using genetically-modified cells, Pal et al. determined that SAM Pointed Domain ETS transcription Factor (SPDEF) serves as a molecular switch to turn on E-cadherin expression and thus regulate tumor aggressiveness. They determined SPDEF achieved regulation of expression through binding to and regulating the SPDEF promoter. These findings provide a strong rationale to explore targeting SPDEF for inhibition of prostate cancer metastasis.

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