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Molecule shows promise as effective first line of prostate cancer treatment

A naturally-occurring molecule has shown potential as an effective first line of treatment against prostate cancer, a study suggests.

    Prostate cancer

    Scientists at Nottingham Trent University wanted to investigate the anti-cancer properties of carnosine against cells derived from both primary and metastatic prostate cancer – where the cancer began and where it had spread to another part of the body.

    Carnosine, which can be produced by the body and is also found in meat, has long been advocated for use as an antioxidant to facilitate healthy ageing.

    There have been reports of carnosine being effective against the development of a number of different cancers but this is the first time it has been studied in relation to prostate cancer.

    The researchers found that carnosine stopped the cells from multiplying and at higher doses even killed cancer from both primary and metastatic cancer cells, while remaining safe to the healthy non-dividing cells.

    Although carnosine is rapidly degraded by enzymes in the body the researchers argue that it could potentially be an initial treatment for prostate cancer if a constant slow release mechanism is used.

    This could include injecting carnosine inside the tumour and releasing it in sufficient quantity before it begins to degrade and lose its effect.

    Another approach could be through administration of carnosine-like molecules which are resistant to enzymatic degradation.

    The hope then would be that the tumour growth could be monitored via the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood and if it continued to grow then the patient would have the option for surgery.

    If surgery is performed first it can lead to detrimental scaring as tissues fuse together potentially complicating further surgery.

    Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with more than 52,000 diagnosed every year on average. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

    Current treatments for organ-confined prostate cancer are not cancer-specific and are commonly accompanied by side effects including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

    Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone deprivation therapy or a prostatectomy – the partial or complete removal of the prostate through surgery.

    “Our results show that carnosine has a significant inhibitory effect in vitro on the proliferation of human prostate cancer cell lines,” said lead researcher Dr Stephanie McArdle, a scientist in Nottingham Trent University’s John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.

    “While carnosine has previously been shown to have an anti-tumour effect, its potential role in prostate cancer cells specifically was unknown.

    “These are encouraging results and support the need for further human in vivo work to determine the potential use of carnosine as a first line of treatment against the disease.

    “It is possible that carnosine-based strategies could be used alone or as an supplementary therapy to surgical or other conventional treatments.”

    The research, which also involved University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust and Manchester Metropolitan University, is published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

    • Notes for editors

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      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.

      The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.

      NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).

      NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with approximately 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.

      Since 2000, NTU has invested £570 million in tools, technology, buildings and facilities.

      NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.

      NTU is ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2022 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).

    Published on 3 January 2024
    • Subject area: Sciences including sport sciences
    • Category: Press office; Research; School of Science and Technology