Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is used to treat prostate cancer. It reduces testosterone (the most common androgen), which cancer needs to grow.
However, as an androgen, more amyloid is left to form the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's, explained researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in the United States.
"We know that prostate cancer itself also greatly affects men over the age of 65, which is a population that is already at higher risk for Alzheimer's, simply due to their age," said Qin Wang, director of the Program. for Alzheimer's Therapeutic Discovery at MCG.
But the role of ADT is “largely not understood,” he said in the paper published in the journal Science Advances.
To understand the link, the team created an animal model of Alzheimer's disease and cancer. The team then administered ADT for eight weeks, while monitoring androgen levels and tumor size; and changes in the blood to look for immunological markers.
The team then developed other animal models, called wild type (no Alzheimer's or cancer), an Alzheimer's-only group, and a cancer-only group that received ADT therapy.
While there was no “significant difference in plaque burden” at the end of eight weeks, they did find hyperactivity in the “glial cells (which are part of the central nervous system) of the cancer-only groups and the ADT-treated groups.” .
This indicated inflammation in the brain, Wang said.
Additionally, they found an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines: inflammatory cytokines. This was particularly decreased in animals with Alzheimer's and cancer that received ADT.
Importantly, the animals' blood-brain barrier showed significant damage. “ADT treatment is actually making the blood-brain barrier more permeable. That would explain why there is so much inflammation in that group,” Wang said.
Using a combination of ADT and natalizumab disease, and those with Alzheimer's and cancer.
The treatment not only reduced infiltration but subsequently improved the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The pro-inflammatory cycle was also reduced, while cognitive function improved.
“Now we know that it is not just amyloid plaques. The immune system response is the contributing factor here,” Wang said, calling for clinical trials in patients undergoing ADT for prostate cancer.
However, as an androgen, more amyloid is left to form the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's, explained researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in the United States.
"We know that prostate cancer itself also greatly affects men over the age of 65, which is a population that is already at higher risk for Alzheimer's, simply due to their age," said Qin Wang, director of the Program. for Alzheimer's Therapeutic Discovery at MCG.
But the role of ADT is “largely not understood,” he said in the paper published in the journal Science Advances.
To understand the link, the team created an animal model of Alzheimer's disease and cancer. The team then administered ADT for eight weeks, while monitoring androgen levels and tumor size; and changes in the blood to look for immunological markers.
The team then developed other animal models, called wild type (no Alzheimer's or cancer), an Alzheimer's-only group, and a cancer-only group that received ADT therapy.
While there was no “significant difference in plaque burden” at the end of eight weeks, they did find hyperactivity in the “glial cells (which are part of the central nervous system) of the cancer-only groups and the ADT-treated groups.” .
This indicated inflammation in the brain, Wang said.
Additionally, they found an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines: inflammatory cytokines. This was particularly decreased in animals with Alzheimer's and cancer that received ADT.
Importantly, the animals' blood-brain barrier showed significant damage. “ADT treatment is actually making the blood-brain barrier more permeable. That would explain why there is so much inflammation in that group,” Wang said.
Using a combination of ADT and natalizumab disease, and those with Alzheimer's and cancer.
The treatment not only reduced infiltration but subsequently improved the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The pro-inflammatory cycle was also reduced, while cognitive function improved.
“Now we know that it is not just amyloid plaques. The immune system response is the contributing factor here,” Wang said, calling for clinical trials in patients undergoing ADT for prostate cancer.
