Insights into an aggressive prostate cancer

Microscopic images of treatment-resistant prostate cancer. The top panel shows typical prostate cancer, known as adenocarcinoma, while the bottom depicts neuroendocrine prostate cancer. The investigators also used a technique to detect a genetic deletion associated with prostate cancer; the blue images on the bottom right hand side of the top and bottom panels show the genetic changes between the two forms of cancer. A subset of treatment-resistant prostate cancer pathologically resembles small-cell lung cancer rather than typical prostate cancer, Weill Cornell Medicine and University of Trento investigators discovered in a new study. The scientists say their findings may lead to more effective ways to diagnose and treat neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Therapies that cut off the hormone androgen, which fuels tumor growth, are commonly used to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer. While this is initially effective, patients often stop responding and develop treatment resistance.