BAF57 Modulation of Androgen Receptor Action and Prostate Cancer Progression

: Given the requirement of the androgen receptor (AR) activation pathway for prostate cancer growth and progression, it is necessary to identify alternative means of targeting this pathway for the treatment of prostate cancer. The work herein has examined the role of BAF57 in its ability to activate the androgen receptor. The research carried out under this proposal has finely mapped the AR binding site on BAF57 to the N-terminus (proline-rich region). Furthermore, the DBD and hinge region of AR also appear to play a significant role in the ability of BAF57 to activate AR. Together, these data present the idea of targeting the interaction between AR and BAF57 at the N-terminus for the possibility of using this as a therapeutic for prostate cancer. Additional studies will determine the actual function of BAF57 as well as the efficacy of targeting this interaction.