Exploring the role of pomalidomide in androgen-dependent prostate cancer: a computational analysis

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PC) is among the most prevalent cancers in males. It is the leading cause of death in men, in around 48 out of 185 countries. Increased androgen receptor (AR) activity is the key factor contributing to the development or progression of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer. Over time, numerous compounds targeting AR have been identified, presenting encouraging avenues for suppressing its hyperactivity. In our investigation, we used the GEPIA tool to study the importance of AR in the context of prostate cancer. This tool integrates the data from TCGA and GTEx in the gene expression pattern analysis and their clinical relevance. This analysis evaluates overall survival, disease-free survival, and transcripts per million (TPM) analysis of AR in PC. We performed docking and simulation for FDA-approved anticancer drugs to assess their potential interactions with the AR. We also conducted a comprehensive analysis of drugs using a quantum calculation (DFT) which provides electronic properties, chemical reactivity, and stability using the HOMO–LUMO energy gap. This study suggests that repurposed synthetic anticancer drugs could be better options for treating prostate cancer by inhibiting AR. In this work, we have shown the potential of pomalidomide, a synthetic anticancer drug, as a potential candidate for androgen-dependent PC treatment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.