Prostate cancer treatment could be “supercharged” by a new way of weakening malignant cells, say scientists.
A new “vulnerability” in prostate cancer cells that could improve treatment for the second most common cancer in men worldwide (second only to skin cancer) was discovered by an international team of researchers.
They found that two enzymes – PDIA1 and PDIA5 – play a crucial role in helping prostate cancer cells to grow, survive, and resist treatment. They act as “molecular bodyguards” for the androgen receptor (AR), which is a protein that fuels the cancer.
When PDIA1 and PDIA5 are blocked, the AR becomes unstable and breaks down, leading to the death of the cancer cells and tumor shrinkage in both lab-grown cells and animal models.
The researchers also found that combining drugs that block PDIA1 and PDIA5 with enzalutamide – a widely used prostate cancer medication – significantly boosted the treatment’s effectiveness.
“This is an exciting step forward,” said Professor Jianling Xie, the lead author of the study.
