Hope for men battling hard-to-treat prostate cancer as scientists discover how some tumours become resistant to therapy
Scientists have discovered how some prostate cancers become resistant to therapy, raising hopes of tumors evading treatments.
On average, more than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK, making it the most common form of cancer in men.
About 12,000 men die from the disease every year – the equivalent of one man every 45 minutes.
One of the most commonly used treatments for prostate cancer is hormone therapy, which plays a crucial role in stopping the growth of cancer cells.
But some tumors become resistant to the therapy, meaning some patients may eventually see their cancer return and progress.
On average, more than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK, making it the most common form of cancer in men. About 12,000 men die from the disease every year – the equivalent of one man every 45 minutes
Two new studies have provided insight into how prostate tumors survive and grow – which could lead to better treatment. In the first study, scientists identified a specific process in prostate cells that helps determine how they evolve from one type of cell to another, which plays a crucial role in determining response to treatment. Pictured: PC-3 human prostate cancer cells stained with coomassie blue, under a microscope
Two new studies have provided insight into how prostate tumors survive and grow – which could lead to better treatment.
In the first study, scientists identified a specific process in prostate cells that helps determine how they evolve from one type of cell to another, which plays a crucial role in determining response to treatment.
There are two types of cells in the prostate: basal and luminal cells.
Whether cancer initially starts in a basal cell or a luminal cell, it almost always adopts the properties of luminal cells as the cancer grows.
Luminal tumors are easier to treat with hormone therapy.
But over time, and in response to treatment, some tumors become less luminal, making them less treatable and more resistant.
While studying this process, researchers saw that when basal cells transform into luminal cells, the way they process a molecule called pyruvate changes.
These changes in metabolism can affect the 'genetic instructions' in the cells that determine how they develop and respond to treatment.
The team discovered that blocking a specific part of cell metabolism and adding a substance called lactate can change cell behavior.
And these changes could potentially affect the success of treatments for prostate cancer, they said.
Dr. Andrew Goldstein, from the University of California – Los Angeles, worked on the study.
He said: 'Identifying metabolic changes and understanding patterns in cancer cells could be a crucial part of developing new cancer treatments.
'New technological developments are giving us insight into how these tumors break down their nutrients – known as cancer metabolism – to help them grow.
'And perhaps we can use or exploit that biology to make tumors more treatable.'
The second study, conducted by the same team, sheds new light on how prostate cancer cells respond when the androgen receptor pathway is blocked – a common approach in treating advanced prostate cancer.
They discovered that a certain protein called MYC plays an important role in how the tumor cells respond to treatment.
“This study teaches us about response to treatment and also suggests that if we could find the right combination of treatments… we could reduce the progression of the disease and its recurrence,” Dr. Goldstein said.
Taken together, the new studies suggest that understanding and controlling these changes could potentially help develop better treatments for prostate cancer, the researchers said.
The first study was published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, while the second was published in Cell Reports.