Cancer News: Breakthrough In Prostate Cancer Treatment - Reversing Drug Resistance Through Myeloid Cell Targeting

Cancer News:  Prostate cancer, one of the most prevalent forms of cancer among men, has been a challenge to treat, especially when it develops resistance to conventional therapies. However, recent research conducted by British scientists has unveiled a promising avenue for reversing drug resistance in prostate cancer by targeting "hijacked" white blood cells. In this Cancer News report, we will delve into this groundbreaking discovery, exploring the mechanism behind this novel approach and its potential implications for the future of prostate cancer treatment.


 
The Battle Against Prostate Cancer Resistance
The resistance of prostate cancer to treatment has been a persistent hurdle in the quest to find effective therapies. But a new study published in the journal Nature offers hope for patients with advanced prostate cancer. This research, conducted by a team of scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) in Switzerland, demonstrates a method to reverse drug resistance in some patients with advanced prostate cancer.
 
Myeloid Cells: The Culprits Behind Resistance
The key to this groundbreaking discovery lies in targeting specific white blood cells known as myeloid cells. In cancer, these myeloid cells are hijacked by tumors to promote cancer growth, progression, and resistance to treatment. For over a decade, researchers have been working to understand how these cells contribute to prostate cancer's resistance to therapy.
 
The initial breakthrough came when scientists noticed that patients with aggressive and treatment-resistant prostate cancer had significantly higher levels of myeloid RNA in their blood. This observation prompted further investigation into the role of myeloid cells in prostate cancer progression.
 
Myeloid Cells: Transitioning to "Senescence" and Becoming "Hormone Factories"
Studies by the research team revealed that myeloid cells within prostate tumors undergo a transformation, entering a state of "senescence." In this state, these cells act as "hormone factories," producing signals that support the growth, division, and survival of cancer cells. Furthermore, these senescent myeloid cells send signals to the bone marrow, recruiting more myeloid cells to join the tumor, thus perpetuating the cycle of cancer progression and resistance.
 
Blocking the Myeloid Cell Pathway
The research team's primary goal was to disrupt this cycle and reverse drug resistance in patients with advanced prostate cancer. To achieve this, they tested a combination of two treatments: AZD5069, an experimental drug designed to prevent the recruitment of myeloid cells to tumors, and enzalutamide, a hormone therapy commonly used to treat prostate cancer.
 
In an early clinical trial involving 21 patients with advanced prostate cancer, five patients (24%) responded positively to the combination treatment. These patients witnessed significant tumor shrinkage, a re markable decrease in circulating levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a cancer marker, or a reduction in blood levels of circulating tumor cells.
 
Additionally, the study revealed that blood levels of myeloid cells decreased in patients who received the combination treatment. Biopsies performed after the treatment showed fewer myeloid cells within their tumors, supporting the theory that blocking the myeloid cell pathway has a significant impact on tumor progression.
 
A Pioneering Approach to Prostate Cancer Treatment
This study marks a significant milestone in the fight against prostate cancer, demonstrating that targeting myeloid cells, rather than the cancer cells themselves, can lead to positive outcomes for patients. Professor Johann De Bono, who led the study, stated, "This research proves for the first time that targeting myeloid cells rather than the cancer cells themselves can shrink tumors and benefit patients. This is tremendously exciting, and it suggests we have an entirely new way to treat prostate cancer on the horizon."
 
The Implications of the Discovery
This groundbreaking discovery has far-reaching implications for prostate cancer treatment. The approach of disrupting the cancer ecosystem rather than directly targeting cancer cells represents a pioneering strategy in the field of cancer treatment. It aligns with the core focus of The Institute of Cancer Research's latest strategy, "Defeating Cancer."
 
Moreover, the potential impact of this research extends beyond prostate cancer. Myeloid cells may play a role in treatment resistance in various other types of cancer. Therefore, the implications of this study could be broad and could have applications across multiple cancer types.
 
Charity-Funded Research
One remarkable aspect of this study is that it was primarily funded by charitable organizations. The research received support from Prostate Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the Swiss Card Onco grant organization, among others. The success of this clinical trial highlights the importance of continued research in the field of cancer treatment and the critical role played by charitable organizations in advancing medical science.
 
The Future of Prostate Cancer Treatment
This breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment opens the door to new possibilities in the battle against this pervasive disease. The combination of AZD5069 and enzalutamide represents a novel therapeutic approach, offering hope to those with advanced prostate cancer who may have exhausted conventional treatment options.
 
Looking ahead, this research could lead to the development of more effective treatments for prostate cancer and other cancer types. By understanding the role of myeloid cells in promoting treatment resistance, scientists are now equipped with a new tool to disrupt cancer progression and improve patient outcomes.

The CEO of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, Professor Kristian Helin, expressed enthusiasm about this innovative approach, stating, "It's fantastic to see such an innovative approach to treatment showing benefits in a clinical trial. It helps to act as a proof of principle for disrupting cancer's supportive ecosystem, as a smart new way of targeting tumors."
 
Dr Matthew Hobbs, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK, emphasized the importance of finding treatments that can control advanced prostate cancer effectively, offering patients a chance at an improved quality of life. He highlighted that this research is the result of years of collaboration and innovation and provides a new, safe, and effective way to treat advanced prostate cancer without resistance.
 
In conclusion, the discovery of how myeloid cells contribute to prostate cancer resistance and the successful clinical trial of AZD5069 and enzalutamide represent a significant step forward in the field of cancer treatment. This pioneering approach could potentially revolutionize how various cancers are treated, offering new hope to patients who face the challenges of treatment resistance. The future of cancer treatment is taking a promising turn, and this research has the potential to improve the lives of countless individuals affected by prostate cancer and beyond.
 
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nature.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06696-z
 
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