A novel target to treat prostate cancer identified
Part of: Prelims and GS-II – Health and GS-III – Sci and tech
Context Researchers at the IIT, Kanpur, have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1) has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer.
DLX1 plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain.
It is also expressed at higher levels in the prostate cancer cells
Key findings
The team of researchers at the institute has now found that the DLX1 protein has a huge role in the growth and development of the tumour and the spread of the cancer to other organs in the body (metastasis).
Using small molecules as inhibitors, the researchers have shown in mice a new therapeutic strategy to treat people with DLX1-positive prostate cancer.
What is Prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that surrounds the urethra just below the bladder.
Most prostate cancers are slow growing.
Factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include older age, family history and race.
The DLX1 protein is found at elevated levels in prostate cancer patients, the reason why the DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker.
