“Trojan Horse” For Prostate Cancer Treatment
There may be a safe, effective, non-invasive gene therapy to treat early prostate cancer. Based on research from a Population Council scientist, the prospective treatment would likely have fewer adverse side effects than experienced with current treatment options. It makes use of a Trojan-horse-like strategy to slip a gene-therapy drug into the nucleus of prostate cancer cells where it can turn off a critical cancer gene. Patricia L. Morris of the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research, and colleagues, linked an anti-gene drug known as a PNA to a male steroid hormone. PNAs (peptide nucleic acids) are synthetic analogues of the genetic material DNA. A PNA binds to an active gene that has a structure complementary to its own, and this action prevents the production of the gene’s protein. Peptide nucleic acids normally have trouble entering cell nuclei. Morris and her team overcame that hurdle by linking the drug to a form of the male steroid hormone testosterone. The testosterone gave the drug a measure of selectivity, as it only entered the nuclei of cells with androgen receptors – most early prostate cancers have androgen receptors. “The best therapy would target prostate cancer cells specifically, avoiding damage to all healthy cells,” says Morris. Early in vitro results suggest that this therapeutic strategy would meet that requirement.