Researchers make ‘significant discovery' in treating prostate cancer — what it means for patients
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for Type 2 diabetes shows immense promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for type 2 diabetes shows promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
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The research — which was published in the journal Molecular Cancer — was based on studies on mice, as well as a retrospective study of 69 prostate cancer patients with type 2 diabetes, all of whom experienced a lack of cancer recurrence while using the drug.
'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner, a visiting professor at Sweden's Umeå University, said in a press release.
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'For the first time, we have clinical observations showing that prostate cancer patients with diabetes who received drugs targeting the protein [PPARy] remained relapse-free during the period we followed them.'
Pioglitazone — a common anti-diabetic drug — not only slowed down the growth of cancer cells but also hampered their ability to grow back.
'The findings are very promising, but further clinical studies are needed to both confirm the results and to investigate whether the treatment can also be used in patients with prostate cancer who do not have diabetes,' Kenner said.
It's the latest in a series of advances targeting prostate cancer — the second most common cancer among men in the US, after skin cancer.
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'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner said.
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A UCLA study found that an AI tool identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% by physicians, highlighting the potential of AI in improving diagnostic precision.
A new at-home saliva test analyzes DNA for genetic markers associated with prostate cancer, offering a more accurate alternative to traditional blood tests and aiding in earlier detection.
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And — following the shocking news that former President Joe Biden has an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer — one Manhattan doctor is offering free PSA blood tests at his Midtown East office through the end of June.
While the overall five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is as high as 97%, studies have shown that men who avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are 45% more likely to die from the disease.
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