Androgen receptor-mediated upregulation of quaking affects androgen receptor-related prostate cancer development and anti-androgen receptor therapy

The androgen receptor (AR) has a crucial role in prostate cancer. RNA-binding protein-mediated post-transcriptional regulation is important in the initiation and development of cancer. The present study attempted to elucidate the mutual association of AR and RNA-binding protein quaking (QKI) in the development of prostate cancer. Dual-luciferase reporter demonstrated that AR can positively regulate the expression of QKI in prostate cancer cell lines due to its effective transcription regulating function. In addition, QKI may increase expression of AR by heat shock protein 90, which is a coactivator of AR, and silencing QKI can increase the sensitive of Casodex, which is an antagonist of AR in castration-resistant prostate cancer. This may be a new strategy for advanced prostate cancer.