Molecular switch to help prostate cancer change its biology

Cellular shapeshifting plays a key role in drug resistance and the spread of cancer to other tissues.

Research recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows that the same mechanisms that aggressive prostate cancer cells manipulate to elude therapy can be used against them, forcing them to shapeshift back into their more treatable form.

“This is the first time anyone's ever shown that the identity of the cell can be regulated by inhibiting translation,” said Dr. Andrew Hsieh, professor (Hematology and Oncology) and holder of the Larry and Virginia Gordon Endowed Chair in Prostate and Bladder Cancer Research.

The discovery opens a new line of attack against aggressive prostate cancer, as well as breast cancer and possibly other cancers.