Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor, or group of cancerous cells, which arises in the prostate gland, a gland in the male reproductive system located below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer tends to be slow-growing compared to other cancers, and as many as 90% of all prostate cancers can remain dormant and clinically unimportant for decades. As with other cancers, if it is advanced or left untreated in early stages, it can eventually metastasize through the blood and lymph fluid to other adjacent tissues and organs.Prostate cancer occurs almost exclusively in men over the age of 50, and it is estimated that about 65% men over the age of 70 have microscopic evidence of prostate cancer. Across the seven major markets, 429,148 men are forecasted to develop prostate cancer in 2010, with an estimated prevalence population of 1,743,495. Overall levels of growth in prevalence and incidence rates are forecasted to continue to be high in relation to other cancer types, with Japan expected to show the lowest rates of growth in both prevalence and incidence of prostate cancer. By 2015 it is calculated that the incidence of the disease will be 440,000 and the prevalence 1,800,000 individuals. The estimated Prostate cancer market by 2015 is $ 6,95 Billion

ANAVEX 27-1041
ANAVEX 27-1041 has shown better cytotoxic and cytostatic properties in cell cultures of prostate cancer. The proposed mechanism of action involves modulatory sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptor properties, control over the voltage-gated sodium channels and volume regulating chloride channels and M3 muscarinic receptor antagonism. Toxicological studies in mice have shown no evidence of adverse events usually observed with conventional anti-cancer drugs. This bioactive compound has shown evidence of pro-apoptotic properties in cancer cells (in vitro studies) Further preclinical in vivo studies are currently being conducted using specialized animal models (i.e. in immunodeficient mice) to further assess and analyze potential activity on the inhibition/ prevention of tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and cell proliferation for the above compounds and related derivatives.