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Prostate cancer researchers are enthusiastic about new findings that suggest a natural compound found in hops plants might help to prevent the disease. The findings were presented this week at the Cancer Prevention Research Conference, hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research in Houston. Earlier research into the compound Xanthohumol has shown that it can effectively bind to estrogen receptors, blocking estrogen and potentially helping to prevent breast cancer. In rat models, preliminary findings presented at the conference suggest that this same compound may work similarly with testosterone, potentially interrupting the development of prostate cancer. The research is still in initial phases, and future animal study is necessary before its effects can be analyzed in humans, but investigators are hopeful that future study will bear out the benefits of Xanthohumol in helping to prevent prostate cancer.