Experimental Drug STO 609 Could Kill Prostrate Cancer Cells

Submitted by Pratibha Minhas on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 10:35

Prostate cancer is a leading killer among men in the UK and it claims the lives of 10,000 men every year. No potential treatment of the disease has been developed till now but the researchers at Cambridge University have claimed that experimental drug STO 609 can kill prostate cancer cells.

STO 609 is an obesity drug which is designed to control metabolism. Dr. Ian Mills and his research team found that the growth of prostate cancer cells is due to a gene that produces the enzyme CAMKK2. By suppressing the production of this compound, the growth of prostate cancer cells could be slowed down or reversed.

Researchers carried out the laboratory trials of STO 609 on mice and found that the production of CAMKK2 was controlled using STO 609. The drug also blocked the spread of prostate cancer cells and reduced the size of tumour.

Researchers believe that by slowing down the growing cancer cells, the fatal condition could be managed.

Meanwhile, a long-term study carried out by the Harvard scientists has claimed that men who consume six or more cups of coffee in a day are almost 20% less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who did not drank.