Protein discovery could help solve prostate cancer drug resistance

Researchers have identified a receptor protein known as CHRM1 as a key player in prostate cancer cells' resistance to docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy drug to treat advanced cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. The study showed that using the drug dicyclomine to block CHRM1 in resistant prostate cancer cell lines and an animal model based on patient-derived resistant tissue restored docetaxel's ability to kill cells and stop tumor growth. Dicyclomine is already on the market as a drug to treat symptoms of inflammatory bowel syndrome. The discovery opens the door to new combination treatment strategies that could overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer and perhaps other cancers, which could help extend the lives of patients.