Help rewrite the script for aggressive prostate cancer

We know that diagnosing prostate cancer as early as possible saves lives. Aggressive prostate cancer can be much harder to cure if it’s not detected early, while it’s still contained within the prostate. Once it’s spread, men are left with fewer options, and ultimately less time with their loved ones.

Too many men are being diagnosed with advanced, incurable prostate cancer that can only be kept under control for so long. This simply isn’t good enough.

Will you help us understand why some men are diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and some men aren’t?

Yes, I'll help.

Understanding aggressive prostate cancer

Professor David Elliott, Professor of Genetics at the University of Newcastle, and his colleagues have found that aggressive prostate cancer cells tend to have higher amounts of two proteins called ESRP1 and ESRP2.

Normally, these proteins guide our cells to follow or ignore instructions written in our DNA ‘script’, making sure the cells make the right proteins at the right time and in the right amounts. But in prostate cancer, these proteins seem to direct cells to follow instructions that make them divide more rapidly, helping the disease to grow and spread.

Prof Elliott and his team will review and rewrite the DNA ‘script’ to find the sections that make prostate cancer aggressive, and tell the cancer cells to ignore those instructions.

With this information, we may be able to develop new treatments that can regulate the role of these ESRP genes, stopping the aggressive prostate cancer cells growing and spreading, while leaving the rest of the body unaffected.

You can read more about his research here.

Will you help give men with aggressive prostate cancer more treatment options, and a longer, healthier life?

Yes, I'll donate.

John and Sharon’s story

John Flanagan had no symptoms when he went to his GP in early 2023 at the age of 73. After hearing about the late TV presenter Bill Turnbull’s diagnosis, he asked for a PSA blood test. Following a raised PSA level, MRI scan, and biopsy, John was diagnosed with advanced, aggressive, and incurable prostate cancer.

John says: “If my diagnosis had come earlier, that would’ve changed my life. Men need an early and accurate diagnosis for them to understand the journey they’re about to go on and ensure that they get the right treatment.”

Sharon is all too aware how a prostate cancer diagnosis can engulf the lives of a man’s family and loved ones. In support of her husband John, she took on our March the Month event in March 2024 to help raise awareness and vital funds.

By funding groundbreaking projects like Prof Elliott’s, you could give more men with aggressive prostate cancer more time with their loved ones.

Please donate today.