New research provides hope

Research from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, suggests that the drug NXP800, currently in clinical trials for ovarian and bile duct cancer, may offer a new treatment option for prostate cancer resistant to hormone therapy. While hormone therapies like enzalutamide help manage advanced prostate cancer, most patients eventually develop resistance. NXP800 targets the Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1) pathway, which helps cancer cells survive under stress by producing heat shock proteins. The study found that higher levels of these proteins were linked to worse outcomes and shorter survival in prostate cancer patients.

NXP800 slowed prostate cancer cell growth, even in those resistant to enzalutamide, by blocking HSF1 and reducing heat shock protein levels. The drug showed promising results in lab and mouse models, significantly reducing tumor growth compared to enzalutamide. The researchers hope to move forward with trials to evaluate NXP800’s potential in treating advanced prostate cancer, offering a new alternative when hormone therapies fail. The drug has received Fast-Track and Orphan Drug Designations from the US FDA for its use in treating ovarian and bile duct cancers, but this study opens the door for its use in prostate cancer.