Research

The aim of research is to develop new therapies for prostate cancer and ultimately find a cure. The scientific and clinical disciplines which the VPCRC are currently focusing on are:

Drug Discovery/Development

•     Screening of drug candidates that are effective for prostate cancer treatment.
•     Preclinical evaluation of possible new drugs which may enhance current treatment studies.

Angiogenesis/Lymphangiogenesis

•     Molecular regulation of blood and lymphatic vessel formation in prostate cancer and 
      identifying molecular targets for blocking these processes.
•     Advanced preclinical testing of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic inhibitory antibodies   
      in in-vivo prostate cancer, metastatic models.

 Stem Cells Research

•     Control of prostate cancer stem cells, especially the role of tumour stroma or cancer
      associated fibroblasts and other cells in the microenvironment.
•     Molecular profiling of lymphatic endothelium from prostate cancer samples to
      identify new target molecules for therapeutic application.

Functional Imaging

•     Preclinical and clinical evaluation of novel radiopharmaceuticals in prostate cancer
      clinical trials.

Clinical Trials

•     Design, implementation and management of prostate cancer clinical trials. The focus
      will be on bringing novel therapeutics to the clinic either as ‘first in man’ or early
      Phase I studies.
•     Specific consortium nodes will undertake the preclinical evaluation of novel
      therapies, early phase clinical evaluation of novel therapies and of novel
      biomarkers.