Elevated expression levels of the protein kinase DYRK1B induce mesenchymal features in A549 lung cancer cells.

Background: The protein kinase DYRK1B is a negative regulator of cell proliferation but has been found to be overexpressed in diverse human solid cancers. While DYRK1B is recognized to promote cell survival and adaption to stressful conditions, the consequences of elevated DYRK1B levels in cancer cells are largely uncharted.

Methods: To elucidate the role of DYRK1B in cancer cells, we established a A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell model featuring conditional overexpression of DYRK1B.

Thyroid hormone induces cellular senescence in prostate cancer cells through induction of DEC1.

While several studies link a state of hypothyroidism to extended lifespan of humans and mice, the role of thyroid hormone in cancer is more controversial since tumor-promoting as well as tumor-suppressive effects are known. In general, aberrant thyroid hormone levels are associated with increased cancer incidence. For prostate cancer (PCa) a prospective cohort study indicates that lower thyrotropin (TSH) and higher thyroxin (T4) levels are associated with an increased risk of PCa.