FAM46B inhibits cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in prostate cancer through ubiquitination of β-catenin

Abstract

Prostate cancer: getting earlier diagnosis A little-studied protein may help in early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PC), one of the most common cancers in men. Because early-stage PC causes few symptoms, many patients are not diagnosed until later stages, when treatment options are limited. New methods for early diagnosis and treatment are actively sought. Proteins in the FAM46 family are known to be involved in many types of cancer. Dongliang Yan at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital East and co-workers investigated what role one protein in this family, FAM46B, might play in PC. Analysis of tumor samples showed that FAM46B levels were much lower in PC than in healthy tissues. These changes were linked to another tumor-associated protein, β-catenin. In further tests in mice, artificially increasing FAM46B levels decreased tumor size. These results could improve treatments for PC.