Stromal - epithelial interactions in prostate cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Shedding light on stromal - epithelial interactions in prostate cancer carcinogenesis and mortality
IRAS ID
124143
Contact name
Mieke Van Hemelrijck
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
This study will be part of an innovative proposal on stromal-epithelial interactions in prostate carcinogenesis and metastasis that will provide a strong basis to advance knowledge in the prevention and treatment of advanced stage prostate cancer. The proposal is lead by ToPCaP (Transdisciplinary Prostate Cancer Partnership), an international multidisciplinary team with expertise in pathology, epidemiology, bioinformatics, molecular biology and oncology. ToPCaP is funded by the Mazzone Award of the Prostate Cancer foundation to undertake this proposal. King’s Health Partners (King’s College London and Guy’s Hospital in particular) is part of ToPCaP and will provide crucial samples of prostatic tissue as part of the well-annotated and unique human prostate cancer cohorts needed for the current research proposal.
More specifically, this study is set out to use whole genome mRNA and miRNA expression data in pure populations of stromal and epithelial cells to identify pathways dysregulated in prostate cancer development and progression as well as pathways that are active in the cross-talk between stroma and epithelium across the disease spectrum. The prostate consists of two distinct anatomical compartments: the glandular epithelium and surrounding stroma. Experimental studies suggest interactions between these compartments in the development of prostate cancer as well as its progression to metastatic disease. Experimental models have found considerable knowledge of stromal-epithelial interactions, so that we now have the opportunity to test these hypotheses in human prostate cancer cohorts. Thus, the current proposal represents a paradigm shift by developing and applying novel biostatistical methodologies to genome wide molecular data of epithelium and stroma in well annotated prostate tissue cohorts.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0289
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion