# YEATS2 promotes DNA repair and induces anoikis resistance by enhancing chromatin accessibility to drive prostate cancer metastasis

**Authors:** Haoran Li, Yarong Song, Yukun Cong, Chuxiong Wang, Kang Chen, Chunyu Liu, Menghao Zhou, Yunjie Ju, Jinyu Chen, Liang Chen, Yifei Xing

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s41388-026-03696-x · Oncogene · 2026-02-18

## TL;DR

This study shows that YEATS2 helps prostate cancer spread by making DNA repair easier and preventing cell death, offering new treatment ideas.

## Contribution

The novel role of YEATS2 in promoting prostate cancer metastasis through chromatin accessibility and DNA repair is revealed.

## Key findings

- YEATS2 expression is elevated in metastatic prostate cancer and linked to poor outcomes.
- YEATS2 promotes metastasis by enhancing RAD50 expression via chromatin accessibility.
- Mirin inhibits lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer cells in vivo.

## Abstract

Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) remains challenging to treat, with limited clinical efficacy and poor prognosis. Anoikis resistance in tumor cells is crucial for their survival in the vascular system and plays a key role in metastasis. Therefore, investigating the molecular mechanisms of metastasis and anoikis resistance is essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets and strategies. In this study, we found that YEATS domain-containing 2 (YEATS2) plays a critical role in promoting PCa metastasis by suppressing anoikis. We observed that YEATS2 expression was elevated in mPCa and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Knockdown of YEATS2 reduced the metastatic potential of PCa cells both in vivo and in vitro, whereas its overexpression inhibited anoikis and promoted metastasis by upregulating the expression of the DNA damage repair gene RAD50. Mechanistically, YEATS2 increases chromatin accessibility at the RAD50 promoter region by recognizing H3K27ac and subsequently recruits the transcription factor NR2C2. Mirin suppressed lymph node metastasis of PCa cells in vivo. Our study demonstrated a novel function of the YEATS2/NR2C2/RAD50 axis in regulating DNA damage responses and anoikis resistance in PCa metastasis, highlighting an important pathway that drives metastatic progression and offering potential new strategies for treating mPCa.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** YEATS2 (YEATS domain containing 2) [NCBI Gene 55689], RAD50 (RAD50 double strand break repair protein) [NCBI Gene 10111], NR2C2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group C member 2) [NCBI Gene 7182]
- **Chemicals:** Mirin (PubChem CID 1206243)
- **Diseases:** prostate cancer (MONDO:0005159), metastatic prostate cancer (MONDO:0004956)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** YEATS2 (YEATS domain containing 2) [NCBI Gene 55689] {aka FAME4}, RAD50 (RAD50 double strand break repair protein) [NCBI Gene 10111] {aka NBSLD, RAD502, hRad50}, NR2C2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group C member 2) [NCBI Gene 7182] {aka TAK1, TR4}
- **Diseases:** PCa metastasis (MESH:D009362), lymph node metastasis (MESH:D008207), mPCa (MESH:D011471), tumor (MESH:D009369), metastatic (MESH:D000092182)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12987735/full.md

## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12987735/full.md

## References

2 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12987735/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12987735