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Researchers in Australia and China have pinpointed two troublesome enzymes that help sustain prostate cancer, opening the door to faster, more effective treatment for the 1.5 million men affected globally each year.
Key Enzymes Found to Protect and Fuel Prostate Cancer Cells
In a soon-to-be-published study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists from Flinders University in Australia and South China University of Technology revealed that two enzymes, PDIA1 and PDIA5, actively shield prostate cancer cells as the cells grow and become more resistant to treatment.
These enzymes specifically protect a protein called the androgen receptor (AR) and assist cancer cells in managing their internal energy production, helping them survive in the body.
“Targeting these enzymes can disrupt the androgen receptor and make tumors more susceptible to current treatments like enzalutamide,” explained senior author Professor Luke Selth from Flinders University.
Enzyme Blockers Shrink Tumors and Enhance Treatment
Researchers found that drugs blocking these enzymes caused cancer cell death and tumor shrinkage in lab and animal models. This approach also affected the mitochondria—the energy source of the cancer cells—triggering oxidative stress and causing further damage.
Moreover, combining these enzyme-inhibiting drugs with enzalutamide significantly improved treatment effectiveness.
It’s an encouraging development, especially given that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer globally, just behind lung cancer. While treatments are available, many patients eventually develop resistance to them.
However, the researchers emphasize that their method isn’t ready for clinical use yet. Drugs targeting PDIA1 and PDIA5 need refinement to selectively affect cancer enzymes without harming healthy cells.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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