The role of transcription factors in prostate cancer and potential for future RNA interference therapy

Introduction: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in men and current treatments offer only a modest survival benefit in advanced stages of the disease. RNA interference (RNAi) is a therapeutic option that has received great attention in recent years with the potential to treat a variety of disorders, including prostate cancer. Transcription factors are cellular proteins that can up-regulate or down-regulate the transcription of genes and offer promising therapeutic targets. Areas covered: This review will focus on transcription factors that have been identified as key molecules in drug resistance, disease progression and metastases in prostate cancer, which may offer potential as therapeutic targets for RNAi in the future. Expert opinion: By identifying therapeutically viable transcription factor targets in prostate cancer, it is hoped that treatment strategies using RNAi will augment the effect of current chemotherapy regimens, slow disease progression and reduce metastases in prostate cancer, resulting in disease regression.