A new study by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has identified genetic factors that determine whether prostate cancers are susceptible to a type of cell death known as ferroptosis. These findings, published in Nature Communications, could help guide treatment strategies for patients whose tumors do not respond to current treatment options.

The study was led by Di Zhao, Ph.D., associate professor, and Boyi Gan, Ph.D., professor, both of Experimental Radiation Oncology.

“Prostate cancer is such a genetically diverse cancer that there are many possible treatment options, so getting patients on the right treatment as quickly as possible is crucially important,” Zhao said. “The two genetic findings in this study could help identify some patients who are more likely to respond, as well as some patients who are significantly less likely.”