Why We Funded It:
New innovative ways of treating advanced prostate cancer are
urgently needed to help men's chances of survival when diagnosed
with advanced prostate cancer. This is a jointly funded project
with the MRC to support high calibre clinical scientists in their
early career development.
Scientific Title: Role of the endogenous
signalling regulator Similar Expression to FGF (Sef) in growth
factor signalling in prostate cancer.
Research project summary:
This project will test if increasing levels of a gene called Sef
in prostate cancer cells can improve the efficacy of current
treatments that block molecules called growth factors, and thus
prevent prostate cancer progression. Many men with prostate cancer
will develop an advanced form of disease that no longer responds to
hormone therapy. This process is driven in part by growth factors.
This project is to investigate a gene called Sef which functions as
a strong natural inhibitor of growth factors. The aim is to test if
increasing Sef in prostate tumours can enhance treatment designed
to block growth factors. If successful, this will offer a new way
to treat men with advanced prostate cancer.