Targeting transcription factor Stat5a/b as a therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5) is critical for the viability and growth of human prostate cancer cells in culture and for prostate xenograft tumors in nude mice. The expression of nuclear active Stat5a/b is associated with high histological grades of clinical prostate cancers, and the presence of active Stat5a/b in prostate cancer predicts early disease recurrence. Stat5a/b and androgen receptor signaling pathways functionally synergize in prostate cancer cells, and recent work suggests that Stat5a/b may be involved in the progression of prostate cancer to metastatic disease. Here, we review the biological functions of Stat5a/b in prostate cancer and potential strategies to target the prolactin receptor (PrlR)/Jak2/Stat5 signaling pathway for therapy development for prostate cancer.