Work

Artesunate enhances the efficacy of enzalutamide in advanced prostate cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of death among men worldwide. Treatments targeting the androgen receptor pathway remain the standard therapy for PCa patients. Enzalutamide (ENZ), a second-generation androgen receptor inhibitor, was developed to treat castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, while patients initially respond to ENZ, drug resistance typically develops within a few months. Artesunate (ART), a semisynthetic derivative of the Artemisinin plant, is approved for antimalaria treatment. In this study, we conducted an FDA-approved drug screening and identified ART as a potential candidate for overcoming ENZ resistance in PCa. Mechanistically, ART induces the degradation of c-Myc, enhancing the efficacy of ENZ. Additionally, patient dataset analysis revealed that c-Myc plays a significant role in developing ENZ resistance. To summarize, these findings suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for ENZ-resistant prostate cancer.

Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108458