Abstract: Objective： To explore the influence of SOX10 on the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Methods: SOX10 protein in prostate cancer cell lines PC3, DU145 and LNcap was detect-ed by Western blotting analysis. The expression of SOX10 in prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145) were knocked down by small interfering RNAs, and the efficiency of SOX10 by small interfering RNAs was confirmed using Western blotting analysis. CCK-8 assays were conducted to assess the influences of SOX10 on the proliferation of PC3 and DU145 cells, and invasion assays were conducted to assess the influences of SOX10 on the invasion of PC3 and DU145 cells. Results: After SOX10 in prostate cancer cells was knocked down by small interfering RNAs, the proliferation of prostate cancer cells PC3 and DU145 was significantly inhibited. Results of CCK-8 assays showed that the absorbance of PC3 and DU145 in SOX10silenced groups was decreased compared with those in control groups (PC3: 0 d: 0.166±0.01, 0.162±0.012 vs. 0.155 ±0.01, P>0.05; 1 d: 0.210±0.011, 0.211±0.018 vs 0.252±0.023, P>0.05; 2 d: 0.293±0.017, 0.280±0.028 vs. 0.433±0.030, P<0.01; 3 d: 0.363±0.071, 0.411±0.038 vs. 0.754±0.045, P<0.01; 4 d: 0.592±0.065, 0.670±0.093 vs. 1.456±0.111, P<0.01. DU145: 0 d: 0.168±0.018, 0.164±0.01 vs. 0.153 ±0.012, P>0.05; 1 d: 0.218±0.007, 0.206±0.024 vs. 0.255±0.02, P>0.05; 2 d: 0.297±0.013, 0.291±0.012 vs. 0.444±0.023, P<0.05; 3 d: 0.378±0.058, 0.419±0.026 vs. 0.762±0.039, P<0.01; 4 d: 0.681±0.094, 0.618±0.050 vs. 1.419±0.170, P<0.01). Meanwhile, knocking down SOX10 significantly suppressed the invasion of prostate cancer cells PC3 and DU145. Results of invasion assays showed that the numbers of invaded cells in SOX10-silenced groups were significantly less than those in control groups (PC3: 142±38, 171±17 vs. 304±55; DU145: 96±22, 134±23 vs. 341±34, P<0.05). Conclusions: SOX10 might promote prostate cancer progression by accelerating the ability of the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, and SOX10 might be a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

Key words: SRY (sex determining region Y) box 10, Prostate cancer, Cell proliferation, Cell invasion