Researchers find new way to combat prostate cancer

The secret is to target a particular tumour molecule that responds to oestrogen, tests reveal.

Growth of prostate cancer is usually associated with androgen male hormones, such as testosterone. But men as well as women have a certain amount of oestrogen, the female sex hormone.

The new research, by Australian scientists, indicates that biological pathways involving oestrogen can be used to combat prostate cancer.

Oestrogen binds to specific receptors on the surfaces of cells - molecules that trigger biochemical effects when stimulated.

Prostate tumours are known to carry two oestrogen receptors.

One of them, the beta oestrogen receptor, causes cancer cells to commit suicide when activated, the research by a team from Monash University in Victoria shows.