Androgen Receptor Signaling Fuels DNA Repair and Radioresistance in Prostate Cancer

Successful treatment by genotoxic modalities including radiotherapy is commonly hampered by treatment resistance in advanced cancers. Two new studies now reveal that androgen receptor signaling transcriptionally upregulates a large subset of DNA repair genes, thereby enhancing the repair capacity and promoting radioresistance of prostate cancer. These results provide a mechanistic rationale for a combined treatment by ionizing radiation and androgen deprivation therapy. (C)2013 AACR.