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Targeting p300 and CBP abolishes HOXB13-loss-induced lipogenesis and tumor metastasis
Xiaodong Lu, … , Jonathan C. Zhao, Jindan Yu
Xiaodong Lu, … , Jonathan C. Zhao, Jindan Yu
Published November 24, 2025
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2025;10(22):e195743. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.195743.
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Research Article Genetics Oncology

Targeting p300 and CBP abolishes HOXB13-loss-induced lipogenesis and tumor metastasis

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Abstract

HOXB13 is a prostate-specific transcription factor best known for its role as an androgen receptor (AR) cofactor. Recent evidence suggests that HOXB13 plays critical AR-independent functions in repressing lipogenic programs and promoting prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis. However, the mechanisms linking HOXB13 loss to tumor metastasis remain unclear. Here, we show that p300 and CBP co-occupy lipogenic enhancers suppressed by HOXB13 and HDAC3 and are essential for enhancer activation and target gene expression following HOXB13 depletion. Loss of HOXB13 induces lipid-sensitive matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), promoting increased cell motility. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of p300 and CBP blocks HOXB13-loss-driven lipogenesis, reduces MMP expression, and decreases cell migration in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo. Analysis of clinical samples revealed that HOXB13 expression is reduced in metastatic hormone-sensitive PCa compared with matched primary tumors, further supporting its role in tumor metastasis. These findings demonstrate that HOXB13 downregulation promotes PCa metastasis through p300- and CBP-dependent lipogenic and motility pathways, which may be targeted by p300 inhibition.

Authors

Xiaodong Lu, Liu Peng, Qi Chu, Samantha Ye, Mingyang Liu, Maha Hussain, Mehmet A. Bilen, Lara R. Harik, Jonathan Melamed, Jonathan C. Zhao, Jindan Yu

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Figure 5

p300 and CBP inhibitors mitigate HOXB13-KD-induced lipid accumulation and cell invasion.

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p300 and CBP inhibitors mitigate HOXB13-KD-induced lipid accumulation an...
(A and B) Representative images of ORO staining (left) and quantification (right) of neutral lipids in LNCaP (A) and PC-3M (B) cells with shHOXB13 and/or CCS1477 treatment. Scale bars: 30 μm. Quantification data are the mean ± SD of technical replicates from 1 of 2 (n = 2) independent experiments. P values were calculated by unpaired, 2-sided t test. (C and D) Cell invasion assays of control or HOXB13-KD LNCaP (C) and PC-3M (D) cells treated with DMSO or CCS1477. CCS1477: 250 nM for LNCaP, 500 nM for PC-3M. Representative images are shown (left/top), and the number of invaded cells is quantified (right/bottom). Scale bar: 50 μm. Quantification data are the mean ± SD of technical replicates from 1 of 2 (n = 2) independent experiments. P values were calculated by unpaired, 2-sided t test. (E) RT-qPCR analysis of MMP expression in LNCaP cells with shHOXB13 and/or CCS1477 treatment. Data were normalized to GAPDH (mean ± SEM, n = 3). P values were calculated by unpaired, 2-sided t test.

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