Prostate cancer therapeutic targeting

In addition, it will be our intention to present a deeper insight into the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, which will allow definition of new targets and approaches for the treatment of endocrine-responsive cancer. Enzymes involved in mechanisms of steroid hormone biosynthesis might be novel targets for endocrine therapy. Moreover, further therapeutic indications for modulators of steroid hormone receptors will be discussed. In summary, many promising new opportunities for endocrine therapy of breast and prostate cancer are now arising. 

The steroid Ci7(20)lyase is an enzyme that is involved in the biosynthesis of andro-stenedione and of dehydroepiandrosterone from progesterone and pregnenolone, respectively. As androgen and estrogen hormones are necessary for the growth of tumors, this enzyme is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer and in hormone-dependent breast cancers. 

Trials of therapeutic vaccination against prostate cancer used OncoVax-P (Jenner Biotherapies, Inc, San Ramon, California). OncoVax-P consists of 200 pg monophosphoryl lipid A (similar to that used in Detox) added to 1 ml liposomes and 100 pg PSA (prostate-specific antigen). Patients received injections by different routes (intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous) according to the trial, with or without GM-CSF, IL-2 or BCG and cyclophosphamide pretreatment. No serious side effects were seen. DTH and antibody responses were achieved. Vaccination increased the PSA-reactive T cell frequency as determined by IFN-y secretion, but no toxicity against PSA-expressing target cells was detected. The most effective strategy could not be determined, and no conclusion about the clinical efficacy of the treatment was possible [214,215],... 

Denmeade, S. R. and Isaacs, J. T., 2005, The SERCA pump as a therapeutic target making a smart bomb for prostate cancer. Cancer Biol Ther 4, 14-22. 

Yu, S Wang, X., Ng, C.F., Chen, S. and Chan, F.L. (2007) ERRy suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth of androgen-sensitive and androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells and its implication as a therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Cancer Research, 67, 4904-4914. 

Elsasser-Beile U, Wolf P, Gierschner D, et al. A new generation of monoclonal and recombinant antibodies against cell-adherent prostate specific membrane antigen for diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of prostate cancer. Prostate. 2006 66 1359. 

Gurel B, Iwata T, Koh CM, et al. Molecular alterations in prostate cancer as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. Adv Anat Pathol. 2008 15 319. 

Pizer, E. S., Pflug, B. R., Bova, G. S., Han, W. E., Udan, M. S. and Nelson, J. B., Increased fatty acid synthase as a therapeutic target in androgen-independent prostate cancer progression. Prostate (2001) 102-110. 

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