Prostate cancer: New discovery can improve efficacy of anti-hormonal therapy

Anti-hormonal therapy is known to control prostate cancer effectively till a point when the tumor almost mysteriously becomes resistant to the drug. Consequently, the most acute challenge before medical science is to develop drugs that can prevent this resistance. Given this context , a surprising discovery by a global research team from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek institute, TU/e and the Oncode Institute assumes critical significance. 

The team has found that proteins that normally regulate the day-and-night rhythm end up nullifying the effects of the anti-hormonal therapy. In other words, these proteins keep the tumor cell alive despite hormone therapy. Backed by follow-up research, this discovery can help new drug development that influences day-night rhythm proteins. The combination of existing therapies affecting the day-night rhythm with anti-hormonal therapies could well result in effective drug repurposing in the fight against prostate cancer.

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