Myeloid white blood cells and cancer
Innovative Therapy Discovered for Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer by Researchers
Share on Pinterest Scientists are working on new therapies for drug-resistant cancers. VICTOR TORRES/Stocksy
Some forms of prostate cancer are more challenging to treat and may not respond to conventional treatments. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a type of advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to normal treatments and has spread to other parts of the body. Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, have discovered this resistance may be reversed in some people by stopping white blood cells from being “hijacked” and pulled into tumors.
Prostate cancer affects millions of men each year. It is the second most common cancer in the world in men and the fourth most commonly occurring cancer overall. It is estimated that in 2020 alone, there were 1.41 million new cases of prostate cancer around the world.
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a type of advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to normal treatments and has spread to other parts of the body.
The estimated survival rate for a man diagnosed with castration-resistant prostate cancer is between nine months to 3 years.
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Now, researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, have discovered the treatment resistance of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer can be reversed in some people by stopping white blood cells from being “hijacked” and pulled into tumors.
This study was recently published in the journal Nature.
New therapy found for stubborn prostate cancer
For this study, Prof. Johann De Bono, and his team targeted myeloid white blood cells, which normally help defend the body against infections. However, these types of blood cells are also usually pulled into a tumor, helping it grow and resist treatment. “Myeloid cells are part of the immune system. In normal conditions, they are rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation in the body, where they help to mount a defense against any invading pathogens,” Prof. De Bono, professor in experimental cancer medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and one of the authors of this study told Medical News Today. “In cancer, it’s a different story. Myeloid cells are also pulled into tumors. When tumor cells are stressed, they can enter a non-proliferating state called ‘senescence’ and become ‘cytokine factories,’ manufacturing proteins which attract myeloid cells into tumors where they support tumor growth, division, and survival. They can also send further signals to the bone marrow to recruit more ‘conspirator’ myeloid cells to enter the tumor and the cycle continues,” he explained.
Using a combination therapy approach
During the study, scientists used a combination of an experimental drug called AZD5069 and a hormone therapy commonly used to treat prostate cancer called enzalutamide to stop myeloid cells from being pulled into tumors. “This drug works by blocking myeloid cells being attracted into the tumor. If these cells cannot get into the tumor, they cannot carry out their usual tumor-promoting activities,” Prof. De Bono said. Of the 21 study participants with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, researchers reported five of them responded to the treatment by either their tumor shrinking in size by over 30%, a decrease in circulating levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), or a drop in circulating tumor cell blood levels. The scientists stated that participants who received the treatment also experienced a drop in myeloid cells, and biopsies after treatment also revealed fewer myeloid cells within their tumors.
“It was tremendously exciting to see five study participants show a response to the treatment. It proves for the first time that targeting myeloid cells rather than the cancer cells themselves can benefit patients. Developing new drugs can take many years, but we plan to further work on this in clinical trials, develop better drugs, and hopefully take this forward as a treatment strategy.” — Prof. Johann De Bono
And might this process of targeting myeloid white blood cells be used to treat other types of cancer? “We know myeloid cells have a role in the promotion of other types of cancer, so we think the impact of this research could be broad, across multiple cancer types,” Prof. De Bono said.
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the prostate. The prostate is an organ that is part of the male reproductive system.
There are screening tests available for prostate cancer. At the earliest stage of prostate cancer, there may be no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually include: – trouble urinating or painful urination – frequent urination – blood in the urine or semen – pain in the pelvis, hips, or back
Since prostate cancer requires testosterone to grow, treatments suppress this male sex hormone.
Castration-resistant prostate cancer occurs when a tumor continues to grow even though testosterone production has been slowed.
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is when the cancer spreads to other areas of the body, such as lymph nodes, bones, or other organs.
How is castration-resistant prostate cancer currently treated?
There is currently no cure for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer may include radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Over the past few years, researchers have been working on finding new therapies for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
“Cancer has a unique ability to evolve and become resistant to treatment, meaning the drugs we use to keep cancer under control will eventually stop working,” said Prof. De Bono.
“Treatments which open up new lines of attack against prostate cancer will be key to overcoming treatment resistance and extending men’s lives.”— Prof. Johann De Bono
An innovative approach to treat prostate cancer
After reviewing this study, Dr. Mina M. Fam, medical director of urologic oncology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center & Robotic Surgery at Ocean University Medical Center, told Medical News Today that this is an extremely exciting study using an innovative approach to manage a very challenging disease such as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
“This research could be a ‘game-changer’ not only for prostate cancer treatment but for several cancers, particularly aggressive and advanced cancers,” he added.
Dr. Fam explained that while localized prostate cancer has many effective treatments that can keep the cancer under control, patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer fail treatment with traditional androgen deprivation.
“Although there have been several advances in the treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer in recent years, even these treatments can fail over time,” he continued.
“Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients can progress with significant bone spread, urinary obstruction, and other painful complications that eventually lead to death from their prostate cancer. For that reason, it is exceedingly important to develop novel therapies for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer to provide better survival and improved quality of life for these patients.”— Dr. Mina Fam
Focus on the tumor microenvironment
MNT also spoke with Dr. Wael Harb, a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Fountain Valley, California, about this research.
He commented that this is a very interesting and potentially promising approach.
“Traditionally, we always focus on the tumor cells itself, but more recently our understanding of what we call the tumor microenvironment,” Dr. Harb explained. “That means the cells and the environment around the cancer cells that might play a big factor in how the cancer progresses. So targeting the tumor microenvironment, rather than the cancer cells themselves, is an innovative strategy that warrants further exploration.”
Although this research is very promising, Dr. Harb pointed out it is an early clinical trial, and larger randomized trials are needed where scientists compare this approach to other treatment options, such as chemotherapy, to see what the results are.
“Can we keep the cancer under control for longer? Can we make the patient live longer? So if we are able to show based on randomized trials that this approach is better as far as giving longer time for patients and especially if it’s quality time, then this will become the new standard of care,” he said.
Prostate cancer is a challenging disease that affects millions of men worldwide. For those with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, conventional treatments often fail to provide effective solutions. However, hope is on the horizon as researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research in London have made an exciting discovery. By preventing white blood cells from being “hijacked” and drawn into tumors, the resistance to treatment in some individuals can be reversed.
In this study, the scientists focused on myeloid white blood cells, which typically defend the body against infections. Unfortunately, these cells can also be recruited into tumors, aiding their growth and resistance to treatment. By developing a combination therapy using an experimental drug called AZD5069 and a hormone therapy called enzalutamide, the researchers successfully prevented myeloid cells from being pulled into tumors. This breakthrough resulted in significant tumor shrinkage, decreased levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and a reduction in circulating tumor cells in some of the study participants.
The potential of this research extends beyond prostate cancer. The role of myeloid cells in promoting other types of cancer suggests that this innovative approach could have a broad impact across multiple cancer types. However, it’s important to note that this study is still at an early stage, and further clinical trials are needed to compare the effectiveness of this approach with other treatments.
As scientists continue to unravel the complexities of cancer, targeting the tumor microenvironment rather than focusing solely on cancer cells emerges as a promising strategy. By understanding and disrupting the interactions between tumor cells and their surroundings, new avenues for effective treatments can be explored. The ultimate goal is to provide better survival rates and improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
So, while there are still obstacles to overcome, this research brings us one step closer to a future where treatment-resistant cancers can be conquered. If successful randomized trials confirm the effectiveness of this innovative approach, it could become the new standard of care, offering hope and extended quality time to patients battling aggressive and advanced cancers.
Now over to you, dear readers. What are your thoughts on this exciting development in prostate cancer research? Do you believe targeting the tumor microenvironment could be a game-changer in cancer treatment? Share your perspectives and join the conversation!
