Why we funded it
This study is a basic study of the role and inter-relationships
of genetic changes in prostate cancer. The study is aimed to better
define prostate specific gene mutations and study the development
of the disease. There are no models of human cancer and our unique
technology will provide a pre-clinical model for distribution to
laboratories involved in anti-prostate drug development. New drugs
will be tested using a mouse model that will be the best mimic
possible to the disease in men. This is vital to form the basis of
drug development for treatment of prostate cancer in men, with
particular emphasis of advanced, hormone-resistant disease.
Scientific title
Mouse modelling of prostate cancer through TMP-ETS family fusion
genes.
Research project summary
Mouse models of cancer have already been invaluable in
understanding human cancer development and in developing new
drugs. For prostate cancer, there is as yet no mouse model
that replicates the human disease entirely, for example by
originating from a single cell in the prostate and from the same
genetic mutations. This project is aimed at generating such a
model.
The team in Leeds have developed a unique genetic manipulation
technology that will be used to make mice that develop prostate
cancer in a much more human-like way. This will provide the
prostate cancer research community an excellent tool for testing
new drugs or combinations of drugs before they are launched into
trials in people. It will also give new insight into the
crucial genetic changes that underlie human prostate cancer
development and progression.