SATB1: A DETERMINANT OF MORPHOGENESIS AND TUMOR METASTATIS

摘要

It is proposed that cancer cells express SATBl, and that SATBl acts as a determinant for the acquisition of metastatic activity by controlling expression of a specific set of genes that promote metastatic activity. In order for breast cancer cells to gain the ability to metastasize, SATBl re-organizes or re-packages genomic sequences in a specific manner to allow a switch in the pattern of gene expression. SATBl expression was found restricted mainly to aggressive cancer cells where it may regulate the genetic and epigenetic changes that program the steps involved in the metastatic process. The present invention describes reagents and tools to detect the SATBl protein for use in diagnosis and prognosis of aggressive cancers and therapeutics to inhibit SATBl protein to deplete its expression in metastatic and aggressive cancers.