Fig. 9: Working model for the role of CdGAP in prostate cancer metastasis.

High levels of CdGAP, a Rac1/Cdc42 inhibitor, are pro-oncogenic controlling cell invasion, metastasis, and proliferation. The mechanisms through which CdGAP promotes cell growth and migration involve the regulation of G1 cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and EMT genes. High levels of CdGAP result in increased expression of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and Slug, promoting invasion and metastasis while reduced levels of the CDK inhibitor p21 induce G1 cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. In addition, CdGAP negatively regulates the levels of the E-cadherin transcriptional repressor Snail1 in PC-3 cells.