Increase of androgen-induced cell death and androgen receptor transactivation by BRCA1 in prostate cancer cells

Although mutations of the breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) may p lay important roles in breast and prostate cancers, the detailed mechanism linking the functions of BRCA1 to these two hormone-related tumors remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that BRCA1 interacts with androgen recept or (AR) and enhances AR target genes, such as p21((WAF1/CIP1)), that may re sult in the increase of androgen-induced cell death in prostate cancer cell s. The BRCA1-enhanced AR transactivation can be further induced synergistic ally with AR coregulators. such as CBP, ARA55, and ARA70, Together, these d ata suggest that the BRCA1 may function as an AR coregulator and play posit ive roles in androgen-induced cell death in prostate cancer cells and other androgen/AR target organs.