Prostate Cancer: An Unmet Medical Need
06 August 2007 - Prostate cancer comprises several different genetic forms, some more benign than others. Johann de Bono, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in the Section of Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research, believes the key to optimal prostate cancer management is differentiation between these forms; minimising over-treatment and maximising treatment in aggressive disease.
Treatment for prostate cancer primarily involves hormone therapy. However, when this fails (termed hormone refractory) it has previously been assumed that prostate cancer cells become independent of hormones resulting in a far worse prognosis than non-hormone refractory prostate cancer.
"Recent evidence, however, suggests that hormone refractory prostate cancer may still be hormone driven", explains Dr de Bono. For example, prostate cancer biopsies continue to have high levels of testosterone despite ablation of testicular generation of male hormone by castration. "There is increasing evidence that prostate cancer cells grown in a laboratory dish may generate male hormones intrinsically," added Dr de Bono.
Consequently, even in refractory cases, hormonal therapies may still be relevant. One of the possible new therapies under investigation is abiraterone, discovered by scientists at The Institute. "Although still in early stages of development, the drug has performed well in the laboratory and has already entered human trials. With more drugs in the pipeline, the treatment of prostate cancer patients is improving although much work still needs to be done," concluded Dr de Bono.
Read more about Dr de Bono's research in The Institute's Annual Research Report 2006.
Find out more about Dr de Bono's work
