In this publication out today in Nature Communications, VarCT Diagnostics co-authors describe how oncofetal chondroitin sulfate is regulated in prostate cancer. The study reports that oncofetal CS is regulated (repressed) by the androgen receptor (AR). When prostate cancer progresses into aggressive AR-independent disease states, these tumors up-regulate oncofetal CS in the tumor via an enzyme called CHST11 to facilitate tumor cell growth and survival. This work suggests that CHST11 could potentially be used as a surrogate biomarker in prostate cancer patients with castration-resistant and AR-independent disease types, and inform on likely responses to VAR2 Pharma therapeutics targeting oncofetal chondroitin sulfate, currently in pre-clinical development.

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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32530-7