For most men, prostate cancer grows slowly. But it becomes much more dangerous if it spreads to other parts of the body, like lymph nodes or bones.
Researchers at Umeå University and their international partners have created a new potential drug. This treatment aims to stop prostate cancer from spreading.
A New Approach to Stop Cancer Spread
The new drug is a fully human antibody. This means it's made entirely from human proteins, which makes it more suitable for use as medicine in people.
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Start Your News DetoxIn early tests, this antibody stopped tumor growth and prevented cancer from spreading in aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The researchers published their findings in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
Maréne Landström, a Professor of Pathology at Umeå University, led the study. She explained that the team is proud to have found the ways cancer cells grow, invade, and spread.
This new treatment works in a different way than current drugs. This unique approach might also lead to fewer side effects. The results from these early models show the antibody worked as intended. This is an important step toward using it in patients.
Next Steps for the Treatment
Landström noted that more safety studies are needed. The treatment must also be approved by health authorities in Europe or the United States before it can help patients.
The main goal is to improve the lives and outlook for men with advanced prostate cancer. This project took several years and involved many people and groups.
Specialists at the SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform helped create the antibody. The Umeå Biotech Incubator also supported the project. Funding from MetaCurUm Biotech AB, a company in Umeå, was vital for developing and testing the treatment.
The team now wants to see if this treatment can work for other types of solid tumors. Landström hopes their work will lead to a new cancer drug that helps many patients.
Deep Dive & References
Targeting oncogenic TβRI signaling inhibits androgen-independent prostate cancer growth and metastasis - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2026
