Private MD News

Researchers develop better way to treat prostate cancer

Category: Prostate

A positive PSA test may help detect prostate cancer in men, allowing them to seek treatment while the disease is still in its early stages. However, even after detection, men are not out of the woods. Many treatments for prostate cancer come along with serious side effects that can impact quality of life.

A team of researchers from MIT may have an answer for this problem, though. They are working on a system that uses nanoparticles to deliver medications straight to the diseased tissue. This may cut down on the damage caused to nearby tissue, thus eliminating the prevalence of side effects.

The researchers have already proven that their method is an effective way to deliver medication straight to where it is needed in mice. The technique was successful in shrinking dangerously enlarged prostates in mice that were treated with it.

While the team is proceeding cautiously with their idea, they are hopeful that it will result in improved treatment for men who have received a positive PSA test within the decade.

"At the end of the day, if the development results are all promising, then we would hope to put something like this in humans within the next three years," said Omid Farokhzad, who led the study.