Female hormones may 'treat' deadly prostate cancer

The study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that estrogens could be good for men and can be used therapeutically to treat prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate grow uncontrollably creating small tumors.

Generally, the growth of prostate cancer is linked with androgen male hormones, such as testosterone. However both men and women have a certain amount of oestrogen, the female sex hormone.

Oestrogen can be used as a tool to fight against prostate cancer
The scientists point out that biological pathways involving oestrogen can be used to battle prostate cancer. Oestrogen attaches to certain receptors on the surface of the cells’ molecules that trigger biochemical effects when stimulated.

Prostate tumors are known to carry two oestrogen receptors, and one of them known as beta oestrogen receptor which kills cancer cells when activated.

The researchers of the present study have developed a medication that selectively attacks beta oestrogen receptors.

Co-author of the study, Prof. Gail Risbridger, from Monash University in Victoria, Australia, said, "It not only inhibits the growth of prostate cancer but also kills off cancer cells that are resistant to conventional treatment such as androgen deprivation therapy, more commonly known as castration therapy, and does so using a mechanism that is different to castration.”

"The team at Monash University has discovered how this compound working through the beta receptors targets a small, but very important, population of cells in the tumour. It is a significant piece of the puzzle that will help medical research in this field - an achievement that could eventually enhance treatment options for patients around the world with advanced prostate cancer," Professor Risbridge added.

Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.

Approximately 35,000 male in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 10,000 die from the disease ever year.

While in Australia, approximately 3,000 men die of prostate cancer, equal to the number of women who die from breast cancer per year.

Prostate cancers are common among elderly men and is quite rare in men younger than 40. The current diagnostic techniques, which include readings of blood levels of a protein, prostate-specific antigen, cannot pick out the dangerous tumors and biopsy