THBS4 silencing regulates the cancer stem cell-like properties in prostate cancer via blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway

摘要

Background Although thrombospondins 4 (THBS4) participates in controlling the biology of prostate cancer (PCa), the mechanism underlying this regulation remains unknown. Hence, this study aims to identify the regulatory effects of THBS4 on the PCa stem cell-like properties and the potential mechanism associated with the phosphatidylinositol 3 '-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway.