Making sense of big data on small molecules

Grant information

Institution - Imperial College London
Supervisor – Dr. Hector Keun
PhD student – Sharmila Rana
Grant award - £126,050
Duration of funding - 2016-2020
Status - Complete
Reference – TLD-S15-005

The project in a nutshell

• MicroRNAs are a type of genetic material which can switch genes on or off, and can be involved in the progression of prostate cancer.
• The team used mathematical and computational methods to identify two microRNAs which are consistently associated with the return of prostate cancer in men who’ve had a prostatectomy.
• The hope is to use microRNAs to distinguish low-risk and aggressive prostate cancer and reduce the over-treatment of men.

Why did we fund this project?

• This research aimed to identify microRNAs which can help clinicians predict which men will benefit most from having their prostate removed, and which men may need more intense treatments.

What did the team do?

• The team started by finding publicly available data which linked microRNAs to known genes linked to prostate cancer.
• By using advanced mathematical and computational techniques, the team identified microRNAs which are more common in either aggressive or low-risk prostate cancer.
• The team used this data to predict if identified microRNAs are linked to the return of prostate cancer after removal of the prostate.

What did the team achieve?

• This research has provided evidence that microRNAs could be useful prognostic markers for prostate cancer, meaning that men can avoid unnecessary surgery and treatment.
• This work is still in progress, with the team still actively researching microRNAs in prostate cancer.

How will this benefit men?

• Some men with prostate cancer can live a normal, healthy life without the need of treatment, whereas other men could require more aggressive treatment.
• The data generated in this study can hopefully provide a more informed idea of how to better treat men with high-risk localised prostate cancer.
• More research into microRNAs could one day make deciding which treatment option is best for a man based on his prostate cancer, reducing unnecessary treatments and unpleasant side effects.