UBC researcher looks into new prostate cancer treatment

One researcher at the University of British Columbia is working on developing a first-of-its-kind treatment for difficult-to-treat prostate cancers.

Stephen Choi is looking into the role that lactic acids, a byproduct generated by cancer cells, has in cancer.

For nearly a century, cancer researchers believed lactic acid had no purpose, but Choi has set out to prove the opposite.

Stephen Choi at the University of British Columbia is researching a new type of cancer treatment. (Angela Bower/CityNews)

He says that the acid has an affect on the immunity of people with cancer.

“We find that lactic acid has a huge impact on stopping a patient’s immune cells from attacking their own cancer or tumor,” he explained.

In light of the connection that Choi says lactic acid has with immunity, he says the plan for the new treatment will help combat how a persons immune system fights the illness.

At the University of British Columbia, Stephen Choi is looking into how lactic acid can affect cancer. (Angela Bower/CityNews)

“One of the major benefits from this treatment is that we think we are able to restore a patient’s own immune system and have their immune system attack the cancer as well,” he added.

He says that the treatment the team is trying to develop is set to bring new light to the differences between cell types.

“The drug we are trying to develop, we are really trying to target the fact that cancer cells use energy differently than normal cells,” Choi explained.

“Because they make a lot of lactic acid, we hope to stop this lactic acid production for better treatment of cancer,” he said.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia are studying the impact of lactic acid on cancer, and working to develop a new treatment. (Angela Bower/CityNews)

Choi says this breakthrough is not limited to prostate cancer, but will also help treat a wide variety of aggressive tumors, including liver, lung, and breast cancers.

He says the team uses a unique computer-based drug discovery platform that can quickly screen billions of chemical molecules to determine which ones are most effective at inhibiting the molecular protein responsible for lactic acid generation.

Choi’s research in the area has also garnered national attention, as he recently earned a spot as one the recipients of the 2022 Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation-Postdoctoral.

“[It] started out as a challenge to conventional wisdom and conventional scientific thought,” he said. “To be recognized nationally for it is a huge honor.”

Although the research is still in the early stages, the team is hoping to have an effective therapeutic strategy for patients battling cancer.