A drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes may also be effective against prostate cancer. The findings, published in Molecular Cancer, point to the protein PPARγ as a critical molecular link between the two conditions, potentially opening the door to new treatment strategies for prostate cancer using already-approved diabetes medications.

PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) is a well-known protein in diabetes research, particularly for its role in improving insulin sensitivity. It is the target of a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones, such as pioglitazone, which have been used for over two decades to manage type 2 diabetes. However, this latest research shows that PPARγ may play an equally important role in regulating the growth of prostate cancer cells.

PPARγ functions as a transcription factor, meaning it helps control the expression of certain genes. It influences key biological processes, including metabolism, inflammation, and cell proliferation.  Using both cell cultures and tissue samples from prostate cancer patients, the scientists explored how the activation state of PPARγ affects tumor behavior. Their experiments revealed that pioglitazone, by activating PPARγ, alters tumor cell metabolism and inhibits their growth.

Intriguingly, initial patient data supports this lab-based discovery: prostate cancer patients who also had diabetes and were treated with PPARγ agonists (like pioglitazone) showed no signs of cancer relapse during the period of observation. This real-world correlation lends significant weight to the hypothesis that these diabetes drugs could be repurposed for prostate cancer treatment.

While the findings are encouraging, the research is still in its early stages. Further clinical studies will be necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of PPARγ-targeting therapies in prostate cancer patients without diabetes. If successful, this approach could fast-track new cancer treatments by leveraging existing drugs with known safety profiles.

Source.