A new cancer drug may be able to inhibit both tumor growth and the spread of aggressive prostate cancer. This is shown in a study conducted by researchers at Umeå University together with international collaborators, published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
“The new drug has been developed to prevent metastasis, and we are very pleased and proud that we have been able to identify the mechanisms that drive cancer cell growth, invasiveness and metastatic spread,” says Maréne Landström, professor of pathology at the Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, who led the study.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. In most cases, the tumor grows slowly and is not life-threatening. However, in some patients, the disease develops into an aggressive form that spreads to other parts of the body, primarily the lymph nodes and bones.
The researchers have developed a fully human antibody. This means it is composed entirely of human proteins, making it suitable for use as a therapeutic drug. In preclinical studies, the antibody successfully halted both tumor growth and metastasis in an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The new treatment works through a novel mechanism of action, leading researchers to believe that the risk of side effects also may be reduced.
The results demonstrate that the treatment performs as intended, marking an important milestone in the development of a new drug for future patients.
“This is a promising step forward, but several important stages remain before the treatment can benefit patients. We still need to conduct additional safety studies, and the treatment must be approved by regulatory authorities in Europe or the United States,” says Landström.
The driving force behind this research is the ambition to improve the prognosis and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer. The current study has been ongoing for several years and, according to Landström, its success is the result of contributions from many individuals and organizations.
An important part of the project has been the collaboration with drug development experts at the SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform, who contributed to the development of the antibody on which the study is based.
“The next step is to investigate whether this treatment can also be used against other types of solid tumors. We hope that our work will ultimately contribute to the development of a new cancer drug that can benefit patients,” says Landström.