Zotatifin shows promise for treating prostate cancer

Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) have found that a cancer drug called zotatifin can help combat prostate cancer. This drug was originally developed ten years ago for breast cancer. It works by targeting a specific enzyme, eIF4a, that cancer cells use to produce proteins that promote their growth. In healthy cells, eIF4a aids in making necessary proteins. However, in cancerous cells, it enables the production of harmful proteins by unsealing messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which carry genetic instructions for protein creation. The UCSF team discovered that zotatifin effectively blocks eIF4a, halting this harmful process. In tests with mice, prostate tumors shrank when treated with zotatifin. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and other cancer research organizations. It was published on March 20 in the journal Cancer Cell. Researchers believe this breakthrough could change the way prostate cancer is treated. They noticed elevated levels of eIF4a in patients whose cancer progressed, suggesting it plays a role in the disease. Zotatifin not only reduces the production of cancer-driving proteins but also prevents the generation of the androgen receptor, a key contributor to prostate cancer. Other therapies often attempt to block this receptor, but zotatifin stops its production altogether. The team hopes their findings will lead to clinical trials for zotatifin as a treatment for prostate cancer. This approach could offer new hope to many patients battling this aggressive disease, making treatments more effective in the long run.