Newly discovered testosterone effect may act on prostate cancer

A newly discovered mode of action of testosterone shows great promise in the fight against prostate cancer, with evidence showing a 60% reduction in size of the tumor in mice.

Testosterone is associated with a higher rate of certain cancers. Classical, testosterone by the cell membrane to act inside the cell. However, recent studies have shown that testosterone may also act on the cell surface through receptors called Ambs (sites the membrane binding of androgens).

Now a team led by Professor Christos Stournaras (University of Heraklion, Greece) has discovered that activation of these cells, binding sites of testosterone on the surface can significantly reduce the size of the tumors of prostate cancer.

When testosterone is bound to another protein such as BSA, had not in the cell, and can only be expressed in the cell membrane. Professor Stournaras mice treatment equipment by inoculation with LNCaP prostate cancer cells. She realized that after a month of treatment with testosterone linked to the protein BSA (bovine serum albumin) showed a 60% reduction in tumor size, no apparent side effects.

Stournaras professor said: "This work supports the concept that drugs that activate membrane androgen receptors may be a new class of anti-tumor agent in prostate cancer. This is new, and we must ensure that these results can be transferred to humans in a satisfactory way. But if we can develop drugs that act on these safe Ambs (sites the membrane binding of androgens), then we have a new treatment for prostate cancer,However an early warning sign of the prostate cancer is the to provide the treatment. "