Siah2-Dependent Concerted Activity of HIF and FoxA2 Regulates Formation of Neuroendocrine Phenotype and Neuroendocrine Prostate Tumors

Neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype, seen in >30% of prostate adenocarcinomas (PCa), and NE prostate tumors are implicated in aggressive prostate cancer. Formation of NE prostate tumors in the TRAMP mouse model was suppressed in mice lacking the ubiquitin ligase Siah2, which regulates HIF-1 alpha availability. Cooperation between HIF-1 alpha and FoxA2, a transcription factor expressed in NE tissue, promotes recruitment of p300 to transactivate select HIF-regulated genes, Hes6, Sox9, and Jmjd1a. These HIF-regulated genes are highly expressed in metastatic PCa and required for hypoxia-mediated NE phenotype, metastasis in PCa, and the formation of NE tumors. Tissue-specific expression of FoxA2 combined with Siah2-dependent HIF-1 alpha availability enables a transcriptional program required for NE prostate tumor development and NE phenotype in PCa.