<scp>HOXD13</scp> suppresses prostate cancer metastasis and <scp>BMP4</scp> ?induced epithelial?mesenchymal transition by inhibiting <scp>SMAD1</scp>

The HOX genes are a group of highly conserved Homeobox-containing that control the body plan organization during development. However, their contributions to tumorigenesis and tumor progression remain uncertain controversial. Here we provided evidence tumor-suppressive activity HOXD13 in prostate cancer. depletion contributes more aggressiveness cancer cells vitro vivo. These effects were corroborated metastatic mice model, where observed bone lesions formed by with ablation. Mechanistically, prevents BMP4-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inhibiting mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1 (SMAD1) transcription. Both bioinformation our tissue microarray cohort data show expression inversely correlated advanced patient specimens. Our findings establish as negative regulator metastasis preventing BMP4/SMAD1 signaling, potentially suggest new strategies for targeting