THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

A new review in the American Journal of Hematology/Oncology addresses the putative role of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the development and progression of prostate cancer.

Crawford et al. have offered a detailed assessment of the ways in which FSH is or may be involved in how prostate cancer develops and evolves over time, potentially in concert with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other biochemical modulators of cellular function. Since the full text of this article is available on line, interested readers are encouraged to read this for themselves.

The basic argument presented by Crawford and his colleagues is that:

• Increases in serum levels of FSH and the FSH receptor, and changes in levels of other key proteins that regulate FSH synthesis and receptor signaling, are commonplace in the progression of prostate cancer over time.
• Increases in expression of VEGF and differential modulation of testosterone levels through the use of LHRH agonists and antagonists may contribute to treatment outcomes.
• Dysregulation of the FSH system appears to play a significant role in the development and the progression of prostate cancer.
• Modulation of FSH levels can be affected by the choice of treatment intervention (especially by choice of type of androgen deprivation therapy).

The also propose that “targeting the FSH receptor directly” may be an appropriate strategy for the development of another new generation of novel and effective medications for the treatment of prostate cancer (and potentially other forms of cancer too).

Filed under: Drugs in development | Tagged: follicle stimulating hormone, FSH |