Identification of biomarkers for monitoring prostate cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study - Identification of protein markers for the monitoring of patients with prostate cancer
IRAS ID
172874
Contact name
Edward Parkin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) currently used for monitoring prostate cancer patients is of limited effectiveness. Levels of the protein may be elevated in conditions other than cancer and patients with prostate cancer may not necessarily have elevated PSA. Thus, there is a need to identify alternative or complementary protein markers to monitor the progress of prostate cancer patients. Dr. Parkin's research group works on proteins that have previously been shown to be elevated in prostate cancer tumours and/or cell lines. These proteins (Jagged1, Jagged2, the amyloid precursor protein, the prion protein) are all cleaved from the surface of cells to produce a soluble form that may be measurable in the blood an/or urine of patients. Thus, in the proposed study, we wish to ascertain whether the levels of these proteins in the blood/urine samples of prostate cancer patients correlate with tumour aggressiveness (Gleason score / stage at presentation), patient response to treatment, disease recurrence, and survival endpoints. Studies of this type are likely to yield valuable information regarding protein markers that could be used to more accurately monitor disease and inform as to the most suitable mode of patient treatment.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0203
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion