A recent study by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London suggests that prostate cancer patients diagnosed in later stages could potentially extend their time with family through the use of medications typically prescribed for other forms of cancer. The research indicates that a combination of existing breast and blood cancer drugs may effectively impede tumor progression in prostate cancer patients, offering hope to approximately 40% of individuals with advanced disease.
Developing and approving new cancer drugs can be a lengthy process, taking anywhere from 10 to 15 years to reach patients within the NHS. While hormone therapy is commonly used to combat prostate cancer by reducing testosterone levels that fuel cancer growth, some patients do not respond well to this treatment, posing a challenge for researchers in understanding treatment resistance.
To address this issue, scientists at the ICR conducted experiments using drugs already in development or utilized for treating various cancers. Dr. Adam Sharp, from the ICR’s Translational Therapeutics Group, highlighted the importance of finding new treatment options to improve outcomes for men facing advanced prostate cancer.
Their investigation led to the identification of a promising drug combination that could benefit up to 40% of individuals with advanced prostate cancer. This treatment approach not only slowed tumor growth but also demonstrated the ability to kill cancer cells, potentially reducing the likelihood of treatment resistance.
By targeting proteins that support cancer cell survival, such as MCL1 and AKT, researchers observed significant prostate cancer cell death in laboratory samples when inhibiting both proteins simultaneously. Subsequent tests in mice confirmed that the drug combination effectively slowed cancer progression.
Professor Kristian Helin, the ICR chief executive, emphasized the importance of finding innovative ways to overcome treatment resistance in cancer research. The study’s findings underscore the potential of reevaluating existing drugs in novel combinations to halt cancer advancement and provide patients with additional time to spend with their loved ones.
The research team utilized a blood cancer drug, fadraciclib, to indirectly target MCL1 levels, and employed drugs like ipatasertib and capivasertib to inhibit AKT, resulting in prostate cancer cell death. The most favorable responses to these combinations were observed in prostate cancer cells with specific characteristics, such as PTEN-loss/PI3K activation, affecting 40% of patients.
The study, published in Nature Communications, signifies a step forward in cancer treatment strategies, offering hope for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for individuals battling advanced prostate cancer.