Compound Shows Promise as Next-Generation Prostate Cancer Therapy

Contact: Sarah Avery Phone: [phone] Email:[e-mail]://www.dukehealth.orgEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE until 11 a.m. (ET) Monday, Aug. 8, 2016DURHAM, N.C. -- In the search for new ways to attack recurrent prostate cancer, researchers at Duke Health report that a novel compound appears to have a unique way of blocking testosterone from fueling the tumors in mice.The potential foundation for a next-generation therapy, called tetraaryl cyclobutane, or CB, is being studied as an option for prostate tumors that have grown resistant to current anti-androgen drugs, notably enzalutamide.“Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in men, and the principal driver of tumor growth is the androgen receptor,” saidJohn D. Norris, Ph.D., associate research professor in theDepartment of Pharmacology& Cancer Biology at Duke and senior author of a study published online Aug. 8 in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.“Suppression of androgen receptor function by anti-endocrine therapies is initially effective, but most tumors develop resistance, resulting in a more aggressive cancer,” Norris said. “Our research has been focused on finding a new approach to suppressing androgen receptor activity, because ev en in situations where tumors are resistant to current therapies, the androgen receptor remains a viable target.”Norris and colleagues focused on a group of CB compounds developed in collaboration with scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Ch...

Source: DukeHealth.org: Duke Health Features - August 8, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Duke Medicine Source Type: news