Studies Help Explain Why Some Prostate Cancers Become Resistant to Hormone Therapy
Published:02 Jan.2024 Source:University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Two new studies led by researchers from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center give insight into how cells use energy to influence the way prostate tumors survive and grow -- advancements that can help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy, the most commonly used treatment for men with advanced stages of the disease.
There are two types of cells in the prostate: basal and luminal cells. When basal cells transform into luminal cells, the way they process a molecule called pyruvate changes. These changes in metabolism can influence the "genetic instructions" within the cells that determine how they develop and respond to treatment. Cells start out depending on a type of energy inside the mitochondria, pinpointing certain molecules and processes within the cell that control these changes. One important protein in this process, called MYC, was found to be the critical regulator of the behavior. Boosting MYC activity reversed the changes in energy production, making the cancer cells less sensitive to certain inhibitors.
The new studies demonstrate a need to further study the link between metabolism and treatment resistance or treatment response. Understanding and controlling these changes could potentially help develop better treatments for prostate cancer.