New anti-prostate cancer drug developed

US scientists have developed a new cancer drug which can help treat a considerable number of men suffering from advanced prostate cancer. Castration therapy, the existing treatment for advanced prostate cancer, acts by blocking the production of testosterone; many cancer sufferers, however, have become resistant to this method. According to the article published in Science, MDV3100 tackles prostate cancer by blocking the androgen receptors, inhibiting testosterone from entering the cancerous cells and stimulating their growth. Recent trials have shown promising results regarding the efficacy of the drug in treating cases reported to be resistant to current antiandrogen drugs. Its use has led to tumor shrinkage in about 40 percent of prostate cancer sufferers. A 50% decrease in serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker of prostate cancer, is also reported in patients following the use of the newly developed drug. Scientists believe their findings will pave the way for treating the most aggressive form of prostate cancer responsible for a high number of deaths each year.