Both oestrogen and testosterone are very similar chemically, so ramping up the levels of oestrogen in the body can reduce the amount of testosterone produced - and slow prostate cancer growth.

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Infections are just one factor that researchers are examining as potential players in the growth of prostate cancer, and others--such as dietary choices--are thought to influence prostate cancer risk as well.

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"We will research a new drug combination therapy which aims to specifically target aggressive prostate tumours to control their growth and, most importantly, reduce the number of tumours which form in other areas of the body, " she said.

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Rubin's team at Harvard, along with colleagues at the University of Michigan, has identified three genes that may be involved, including one that appears to remove the normal brakes on cellular growth, allowing prostate cells to spread like wildfire.

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When the mice were kept calm and free of stress, the drug destroyed prostate cancer cells and inhibited tumor growth.

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The medical devices maker, however, could see a slowdown in the growth in prostatectomies (prostate surgery) procedures performed through the system.

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Most solid tumors of the colon, lung, breast, prostate and pancreas have a slew of defective genes propelling their rapid growth.

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The expansion in the number of procedures being performed is also driving the revenue growth even as there has been a declining trend in prostatectomies (prostate surgery) procedures performed with the system.

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