A new study led by Drs. Christopher Ong and Yuzhuo Wang has uncovered a key mechanism behind how prostate cancer transforms into a more dangerous form known as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). This change, often triggered by standard hormone therapies, makes the disease more resistant to treatment.

The research team discovered a signalling cascade in cancer cells involving the proteins CXCR4, LASP1, G9a, and SNAIL. When activated, this pathway causes the cells to change their identity, shut off REST – a protein that prevents cells from taking on neuronal features, and become more invasive.

Importantly, the scientists found that by blocking either CXCR4 or G9a — with existing drugs — they could reverse this aggressive transformation, pushing the cancer cells back to a more treatable state. They also demonstrated a new imaging and therapy technique that targets CXCR4 using radioligands, showing promise for both detecting and treating NEPC tumors in mice.

This breakthrough offers a new strategy to stop or reverse therapy-resistant prostate cancer and opens the door for targeted treatments using drugs or radiotherapy aimed at this newly identified pathway.

Click here to read the article “CXCR4-LASP1-G9a-SNAIL Axis Drives NEPC Transdifferentiation via Induction of EMT and Downregulation of REST”