Exploring how prostate cancer cells resist treatment
December 10, 2020
Research could provide a pathway for prostate cancer therapeutics
Research by a University of Georgia scientist sheds light on how two genes factor into prostate cancer cells becoming resistant to treatment, providing a potential new target for therapeutics.
The two genes, ACSL3 and ACSL4, are from the same family and help cancer cells grow, according to Houjian Cai, associate professor in the College of Pharmacy. He and a team of researchers found that the genes function in an interconnected way, similar to the concept of yin and yang.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Castration treatment, the primary therapy used to fight prostate cancer, suppresses the male hormone that helps the cancer grow. With this therapy, expression of the ACSL3 gene typically becomes low, according to Cai.