New advances in prostate cancer New York University's targeted therapy for synthetic Wnt pathlands

A new generation of anti-androgen drugs, such as Xtandi from Pfizer and Astellas, and Zytiga from Johnson and Johnson, can improve the survival rate of metastatic degenerative prostate cancer (mCRPC). But a multidisciplinary team from New York University recently crafted a new compound that promises to further improve the treatment of the disease.
scientists have been exploring new ways to treat prostate cancer, including the Wnt signaling path, which mutates in about 20 percent of mCRPC cases. Wnt activation β the accumulation of a series of proteins that bind to T cytokine (TCF) transcription factors and trigger genes that promote cell proliferation. The activation of these genes is essential for the early development of prostate tissue, but they can also cause cancer in adulthood. However, the findings of the drug for this path still are unclear.
In response to the Wnt path and the interactions between the β serial protein and TCF, the NYW team concluded that small molecules are not suitable for protein-protein-binding surfaces, which are usually wide and flat, and the new compounds they synthesize are well suited. The compound is between small molecules and large molecule biologics and is called anthropopeptides. These protein compounds have similar structures to peptides, but have significant functional differences. Because peptides are large enough and their structure is resistant to protein hydrolysing, they are expected to be a new treatment targeting the Wnt path.
about the compound's synthesis, the researchers explained that they folded a linear peptide molecule into a 3D ring-like structure and "binding" it so that it could block the docking site normally used by TCF. A new generation of computer simulation tools allows teams to understand early how this ring peptide adapts to its protein targets.
team found that in cell culture experiments, the ring-like peptide reduced the growth of prostate cancer cells by 95 percent over 22 days compared to untreated cells. In contrast, treating cells with unmodated anthropopeptides reduced the growth of cancer cells by only 40%. In addition, they reduce the signaling of androgens. The researchers believe this suggests that they may have a double anti-cancer effect.
team wanted to prove the new compound's role in live animals, so they chose zebrafish. These zebrafish have a rare Wnt-activated mutation that causes β proteins to accumulate, preventing eye formation. In the experiment, the researchers found that ring peptides blocked overactive β-linked proteins interacted with TCF, allowing zebrafish to develop eyes, an interaction similar to the one that affects prostate cancer in humans.
researchers are encouraged by the results and plan to further test the compound's therapeutic potential in mouse models of prostate cancer. At the same β, they believe that the interaction between these proteins and TCF may also be a good target for treating other types of cancer, such as colon and breast cancer.
we look forward to more good news for the research team on the treatment of prostate cancer, and we look forward to the day when humans can overcome prostate cancer. (Bio Valley)