Cytochrome P450 1B1 promotes cancer cell survival via specificity protein 1 (Sp1)-mediated suppression of death receptor 4.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1), a well-known oncogene, has garnered wide attention because of its tumor-specific expression pattern and actions as a carcinogenic factor. Although CYP1B1 might play a crucial role in carcinogenesis, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenic involvement in cancer development remain unclear. The present study investigated the manner in which CYP1B1 promotes survival of various cancer cells.

Induction of steroid sulfatase expression in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells by insulin-like growth factor II.

Human steroid sulfatase (STS) plays an important role in regulating the formation of biologically active estrogens and may be a promising target for treating estrogen-mediated carcinogenesis. The molecular mechanism of STS gene expression, however, is still not clear. Growth factors are known to increase STS activity but the changes in STS expression have not been completely understood.