title: Prostate-Derived ETS Factor Regulates Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition through Both SLUG-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms.
abstract: The 5-year survival rate is very low when breast cancer becomes metastatic. The metastatic process is governed by a network of molecules of which SLUG is known to play a major role as a regulator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Prostate-derived ETS factor (PDEF) has been proposed as a tumor suppressor, possibly through inhibition of invasion and metastasis; therefore, understanding the mechanism of PDEF regulation may help to better understand its role in breast cancer progression. This study shows for the first time that the transcription factor SLUG is a direct target of PDEF in breast cancer. We show that the expression of PDEF is able to suppress/dampen EMT through the negative regulation of SLUG. In addition, we show that PDEF is also able to regulate downstream targets of SLUG, namely E-cadherin, in both SLUG-dependent and -independent manners, suggesting a critical role for PDEF in regulating EMT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yordy
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCarragher
authors.forename: Marey R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shriver
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Larue
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Dennis K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Watson