Why We Funded It:
This project will investigate a potential new treatment strategy
for prostate cancer. The available treatment options for men with
advanced prostate cancer are currently limited. There is a clear
need to invest in research to focus on new ways to control and
treat advanced prostate cancer. The outlook for men whose cancer is
no longer responding to standard therapy is usually bleak, and this
research team led by Dr Charlotte Bevan are working hard to find
ways to improve this situation.
Scientific Title: Manipulating prohibitin: a
novel therapy for prostate cancer?
Research project summary:
Hormonal therapies are currently the best option for patients
with inoperable prostate cancer that has spread outside the
prostate gland. These therapies are initially successful, but after
1 to 3 years patients often relapse with life-threatening disease.
At this stage, there are very limited treatment options, although
chemotherapy is sometimes offered. Dr Bevan and her team aim to
take the first steps in developing a novel form of therapy. This is
based on their previous studies showing that a protein called
prohibitin can reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells. The team
will use samples obtained with permission from men with prostate
cancer to determine the best targets for the new therapy. Following
this, they will design and test multiple therapies in model systems
that represent the conditions in men with the disease, to determine
the effect on tumour growth. Ultimately, the team aim to try and
offer a new therapy that could be used as an alternative to
existing therapies or used in combination with hormone therapies to
improve their efficacy.
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