Researchers at the Imperial College of London have discovered in their laboratory that a naturally-occuring protein called FUS inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells, according to their study published in the journal Cancer Research.
The scientists discovered that patients with higher FUS levels tended to live longer and have less aggressive cancers. The findings suggest that FUS might be able to suppress tumour growth and stop it from spreading to other parts of the body where it can be fatal.
Although the research is only in its initial stages, Dr Helen Rippon of the Prostate Cancer Charity, one of the research funders, believes the study provides an “important clue” in being able to identify the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer much earlier.
“If FUS really is a tumour suppressor, it might also be involved in other cancers, such as breast cancer, which has significant similarities with prostate cancer,” said lead author Greg Brooke.