Is SATB1 a master regulator in breast cancer growth and metastasis?

Evaluation of: Han HJ, Russo J, Kohwi Y et al.: SATB1 reprogrammes gene expression to promote breast tumor growth and metastasis. Nature 452(7184), 187-193 (2008). Metastasis is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. However, the genetic mechanisms involved in the master control genes of metastasis remain unclear. In this study, the authors found that special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) expression contributed to breast cancer growth and metastasis. SATB1 expression is detected in aggressive breast cancer cells rather than nonaggressive breast cancer cells. Moreover, by introducing the SATB1 gene into nonmetastatic breast cancer cells, invasive tumors can be induced in mice; whereas, silencing of SATB1 in metastatic cells not only abolishes metastasis and tumor growth in mice, but also returns cells to their normal appearance. These effects are related as SATB1 upregulates metastasis-associated genes while downregulating tumor-suppressor genes through epigenetic modification. The research suggests that SATB1 is a master regulator in the metastasis of breast cancer and, therefore, can be considered as an independent prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.