Identification of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers in Black Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of prognostic/predictive protein biomarkers in prostate cancer tissues derived from Caucasian and patients of African-heritage to assist in clinical decion-making. Construction of a UK based African-heritage tissue microarray for validation of candidate biomakers.
IRAS ID
166232
Contact name
Hari Ratan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 26 days
Research summary
Background
The incidence of prostate cancer is increased in men with African ancestry by 2-3 times compared to Caucasian counterparts. Their cancer tends to be more aggressive and American studies suggest that these differences possibly result from differences in tumour biology, controlled by cancer genes. Genes regulate tumour behaviour by producing cancer proteins: in breast cancer, when quantified, some proteins show an association with disease progression and survival and are referred to as ‘biomarkers’. In some cancers eg. breast cancer, biomarkers can be used to guide the treatment given to patients. There is a real need to identify new biomarkers for prostate cancer because currently very few exist and they do not provide all the information that patients and clinicians need to make informed choices.What we propose doing?
We propose investigating tumour gene/protein expression in stored archival prostate cancer tissues from UK-based African-heritage and Caucasian patients to test if they explain tumour behaviour differences seen in these populations. UK-based African-heritage and African-American men share a common ancestry from West Africa.Mathematical approaches will be used to analyse large publically available gene datasets available for African-American and Caucasian patients to identify differences in cancer gene expression associated with survival, secondary cancer development (metastasis), and failure to respond to hormonal anti-cancer therapy. Subsequently, we will assess tumour protein levels (corresponding to altered genes) in a newly assembled collection of surgically removed archival African-heritage prostate tumour tissue from UK-resident patients, and compare them to a pre-existing Caucasian prostate cancer tissue collection. By reference to patients 10 year clinical history, this should result in the identification of biomarker panels that can assist in clinical decision-making by informing which patients need intensive follow-up/treatment. Alternatively, biomarkers can be used to reassure patients that they can be spared from potential over-treatment.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0499
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion