Protein to Combat Prostate Cancer Cell Growth

Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Essex, have been testing a "designer" protein that could be effective at treating prostate cancer, which has the ability to grow when they are exposed to male hormones such as testosterone and bind to specific receptors. The research team has been working on combining two separate proteins to create a hybrid, with one half binding to the receptor, whilst the other half blocks the receptor's activity. The research demonstrates that both of these factors are important in blocking activity, and consequently the growth of the cancer.

Dr Charlotte Bevan, senior author of the study, from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London said: "Our team is seeking to design a new therapy that will help patients once the other ones have failed. There is a lot of research supporting the idea that the androgen receptor continues to drive prostate cancer growth, so we have been investigating novel methods to block this pathway."

"So far, the research has only been carried out in prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. These proof of principle experiments are really promising, but more work is needed before these therapies are ready for clinical trials" said Dr Greg Brooke, first author of the study, now at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex. "The next step is to continue research in cell models to refine the therapy into something that is specific, potent and easy to deliver.It's exciting to think that this research could offer new hope for men with advanced prostate cancer."

They hope to develop the protein into a therapeutic that could be trialled in patients within five years.

This work was supported by Prostate Cancer UK (formerly Prostate Action), The Martin Harris Research Fellowship, Imperial Innovations and Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

The findings are published the journal Oncotarget.