Background

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men. Targeting the androgen receptor (AR) remains the primary therapeutic strategy. However, resistance to clinically available AR inhibitors often leads to relapse of the cancer in the form of a more aggressive, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Now researchers at The University of British Columbia have developed new small molecule inhibitors to overcome treatment resistance in CRPC.

Technology Overview

Using AI-driven computational tools UBC researchers have identified novel drug candidates that target two sites within the DNA binding domain (DBD) of AR, the D-box and P-box. Currently available AR inhibitors act through the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of AR.

The lead molecules identified represent unexplored chemical scaffolds that are not found in conventional