NCI Examines Cediranib to Fight Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer metastases, or cancer growing outside the prostate glands, can occur in any organ but is seen most frequently in the bone.

Kathleen Kelly, PhD, branch chief at the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research, Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, has conducted research focusing on metastatic prostate cancer cells. Specifically, she has examined drugs that inhibit blood vessel formation.

One of the drugs Kelly has tested is AstraZeneca’s cediranib (AZD2171), an oral inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Cediranib has been tested as a first-line metastatic colorectal cancer agent, but has failed to deliver in phase III clinical trials.

Kelly’s research revealed that cediranib decreased brain and bone metastases in mice, as is demonstrated with bone scans in the video below.

Interestingly, once the drug was discontinued, the bone metastases did not return.

Kelly’s hope is that the mice trials will translate into more in-depth clinical trials.

Helping Fight Metastatic Prostate Cancer