Overexpression of TFF3 is involved in prostate carcinogenesis via blocking mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Abstract

Prostate cancer: Promising protein biomarker A protein found in high levels in prostate cancer tissues could provide a biomarker and therapeutic target for the disease. Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cause of cancer-related death, yet existing biomarkers cannot reliably predict PCa risk. The search for a novel biomarker led Yeun-Jun Chung at the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, and co-workers to examine the role of the trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3) protein. TFF3 overexpression is implicated in tumor invasion and in limiting tumor cell death in many cancers, including PCa. Chung’s team analyzed TFF3 levels in 108 cases of PCa and found they were significantly higher than in normal prostate tissues. Blocking the overexpression of TFF3 in two PCa cell lines limited tumor cell growth and migration, and increased cancer cell death.