Stopping advanced prostate cancer in its tracks

Stopping advanced prostate cancer in its tracks

To find new ways to treat men with prostate cancer, it’s vitally important we understand the biological processes that turn normal prostate cells into prostate cancer cells, and that allow those prostate cancer cells to grow and spread. Over the last 25 years, we have funded many researchers to build up that detailed understanding.

In 2010, a team funded by us published research showing that a gene called PTEN played an important role. Men who had a mutation in their PTEN gene were more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer. The researchers also showed that 40-60% of men with prostate cancer have a PTEN mutation.

PTEN acts like a handbrake. When it’s present, it controls when cells can grow and when they can't. When PTEN is mutated and its function is lost, the handbrake is released and can't be put back on - resulting in cells that grow much more quickly than normal.

Based on this knowledge, drugs have been developed to try to put that handbrake on even if PTEN isn't working. One such drug is called ipatasertib and, thanks to the evidence generated by Prostate Cancer UK funded research it is now being tested in a large clinical trial.

From research idea to access for all

Idea

We funded a team to identify genetic changes that predict how aggressive a man's prostate cancer is. The team found that around 40-60% of men with prostate cancer have a mutation in a gene called PTEN.

Lab research

PTEN acts as a cell growth handbrake. When the handbrake is not working properly, prostate cancer cells grow and spread more quickly. The team found that men who had PTEN mutations had more aggressive prostate cancer.

Clinical trials

Excitingly large pharmaceutical companies have used the evidence built by our funded researchers to develop new drugs for prostate cancer. One of these drugs, called ipatasertib, works by blocking the effect of PTEN mutations.

Approved for use

Early data from that large clinical trial is promising. It shows that ipatasertib can delay men’s prostate cancers spreading for an extra two months compared to current treatments. There is also a hint that if we can find more accurate ways to see if men have a PTEN mutation, we should be able to get even better results from this drug.

Access for all

If the data from the trial shows the use of ipatasertib extends men's lives, we will work with decision makers to ensure men can be tested for PTEN mutations, so the right men will be given the right treatment.