Improving identification of aggressive versus slow growing prostate cancer

Background

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australia with one in six men developing the disease by the age of 85. Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment in recent decades, a typical man has around a 95% chance of surviving beyond five years. However, once prostate cancer has spread the five-year survival rate drops dramatically to just 30%.   

There is currently no effective treatment for prostate cancer that has spread. Current treatment approaches fail to distinguish between aggressive and slow growing prostate cancer.  Because of this, many patients are over treated, resulting in long-term side effects, but others continue to develop slow growing prostate cancer which has little to no consequence to their overall health. Associate Professor Naylor has identified a gene – CBFβ – which may be able to be used as a marker to distinguish between aggressive and slow growing prostate cancer. 

The research

A/Professor Naylor and his team have shown that levels of the gene CBFβ are increased during prostate cancer and when they stop the gene from working, tumour growth and spread is dramatically reduced. In this project, the team will investigate exactly how CBFβ functions and determine if levels of the gene can be used as a marker to predict if a patient will have an aggressive or slow growing form of prostate cancer. The team will analyse the levels of CBFβ in two independent patient groups and extensively follow-up both groups.