Treating prostate cancer with antidepressants

Imagine treating Prostate Cancer with an anti-depressant medication.

A new USC School of Pharmacy study suggests that the monoamine oxidase-A enzyme (MAO-A) pathway could be used for treating prostate cancer. The drugs under consideration are the new, third generation of reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitors such as moclobemide, toloxatone and brofaromine, also known as RIMAs (reversible inhibitors of MAO-A).

The MAO-A gene is relevant for depression and other mental illnesses, as well as autism and aggression.

The current study showed an increased MAO-A expression in prostate cancer.