Homeobox protein NKX3.1 (NKX3.1)

Homeobox protein NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific transcription factor that serves as a critical regulator of prostate development and a potent tumor suppressor in early-stage prostate cancer. It is primarily expressed in the luminal epithelial cells of the prostate and is regulated by androgen receptor (AR) signaling. In early disease, NKX3.1 maintains cellular differentiation and suppresses growth; however, its expression is frequently lost in high-grade tumors and metastatic lesions, contributing to cancer progression. Interestingly, recent research suggests that in advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), NKX3.1 may adopt an oncogenic role by acting as a co-factor for the AR to promote therapy resistance. Due to its highly restricted expression profile, NKX3.1 is a prominent immune response target antigen for cancer vaccines and T-cell therapies. It is currently a component of multi-antigen immunotherapies like BNT112 and JNJ-64041809, which are designed to stimulate a robust T-cell-mediated attack against prostate cancer cells.

Other names

NKX3-1NKX3BAPX2NKX3ANK3 homeobox 1Homeobox protein NK-3 homolog A

Antigen-specific T-cell activation and transcriptional regulation of prostate-specific genes.