Presenter: Charity Conlin
Authors: Charity Jennings, Matthew Clive, Jason Kenealey
Faculty Advisor: Jason Kenealey
Institution: Brigham Young University
Although prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, there is no effective cure for advanced PC; this research aims to build upon past research by combining treatments from eastern and western medicines to create a selective and potent cure. Currently, docetaxel is used as a treatment for advanced PCs that are no longer responsive to hormone therapies. However, docetaxel leaves patients with serious negative side effects. PC cells are also developing resistance to docetaxel leading to uncontrolled cancer growth and a need for further treatment. Previous research shows that treating cancers with natural compounds found in Chinese medicines (NCCMs) can sensitize the cancer to chemotherapeutics causing a reduction of cancerous cells (1). My previous research also shows that combining multiple NCCMs can have a great effect in reducing PC cell viability. The problem remains to find a treatment that works against early and advanced PCs without significant side effects. Since combinatorial treatments have produced positive results, this research will aim to bridge the gap of previous studies between western and eastern medicines to find a potent ratio combination of multiple NCCMS with docetaxel that will treat differing stages of prostate cancer with potentially fewer side effects.