Prostate of Mind

Neuropeptide hormones associated with pleasure and analgesia mayhave an unexpected role in fighting prostate cancer, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.¹ The study ties together a mechanism that involves stress response, immunity and tumor growth, and it also identifies new points of therapeutic intervention. Industry researchers were intrigued by the findings, but cautioned that clinical applications are a long way off.

Dipak Sarkar, professor of animal sciences at Rutgers University and team leader on the PNAS paper, told SciBXthat the study stems from his long-standing interest in how b-endorphin (BEP) influences brain development, immunity and cancer. BEP is a small peptide hormone made in the hypothalamus by the cleavage of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), a precursor to a number of neuropeptide hormones. BEP is secreted during stress, exercise and sex, activating opioid receptors in the nervous system to relieve pain and boost vascular function.²...