Relief from the constant call of nature is the aim of a new drug, tested in rats, which can shrink an enlarged prostate and is likely to have few side effects.
By the age of 60 an estimated 70 per cent of men have prostate enlargement. Treatment involves surgery or drugs that block testosterone, a hormone that drives unwanted growth. Side effects can include loss of libido and erectile dysfunction.
The new drug, RC-3940-II, developed by Andrew Schally of the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Florida and colleagues works by blocking gastrin-releasing peptide – another potent growth factor.
In rats, a six-week treatment shrank prostates by 18 per cent. It also shrank human prostate cells by 21 per cent. Importantly, fewer side effects are likely as testosterone pathways are avoided.
Journal reference: PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1222355110
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.
If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.
Drug reduces enlarged prostate with few side effects
This article
Drug reduces enlarged prostate with few side effects
can be opened in url
https://newsdiscolorate.blogspot.com/2013/01/drug-reduces-enlarged-prostate-with-few.html
Drug reduces enlarged prostate with few side effects
