Androgen Receptor-Mediated Transcription in Prostate Cancer

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 898
• Main Authors: Özturan, Doğancan, Morova, Tunç, Lack, Nathan A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.03.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: 3D genome organization; androgen receptor; Androgen receptors; Androgens; Antigens; AR cistrome; Binding sites; Cell Line, Tumor; Chromatin remodeling; DNA methylation; enhancers; Gene expression; gene transcription; Genetic diversity; Genomes; Humans; Kinases; Male; Metastasis; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Proteins; Receptors, Androgen - genetics; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism; Regulatory sequences; Review; Transcription factors; Transcription, Genetic; gene transcription; prostate cancer; androgen receptor; enhancers; AR cistrome; 3D genome organization
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells11050898

Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transcription is critical in almost all stages of prostate cancer (PCa) growth and differentiation. This process involves a complex interplay of coregulatory proteins, chromatin remodeling complexes, and other transcription factors that work with AR at cis-regulatory enhancer regions to induce the spatiotemporal transcription of target genes. This enhancer-driven mechanism is remarkably dynamic and undergoes significant alterations during PCa progression. In this review, we discuss the AR mechanism of action in PCa with a focus on how cis-regulatory elements modulate gene expression. We explore emerging evidence of genetic variants that can impact AR regulatory regions and alter gene transcription in PCa. Finally, we highlight several outstanding questions and discuss potential mechanisms of this critical transcription factor.