Research at Purdue University has determined that the investigational drug phenoxodiol specifically targets an essential protein specific to prostate cancer cells.

The protein, tumor-associated NADH oxidase (or tNOX), is essential for prostate cancer cells to grow and survive. When phenoxidiol binds to tNOX, it is rendered useless to the cell and the cell is unable to divide. If enough tNOX in the cancer cell is bound to phenoxidiol, the cell dies.

The study observed 19 late stage hormone refractory prostate cancer patients while giving them oral doses of phenoxidiol. The protein tNOX 75 alpha was found in all 19 patients, and has not been observed in men without prostate cancer.

After receiving the oral phenoxodiol, the tNOX 75 alpha levels dropped in 11 of the patients, and it was observed that the rate of tumor growth decreased.

Analysis:
Should these results be duplicated in larger studies and side effect profiles are acceptable this could become a useful drug in physician's arsenals for fighting prostate cancer.