Ground-breaking QUT research will investigate a new test for prostate cancer, using technology developed by Australian industry partner Minomic International Ltd (Minomic).
The research could lead to more accurate diagnosis and management of one of Australia's biggest killers.
Professor Colleen Nelson and Professor Pamela Russell, from the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q), together with Professor Bradley Walsh and Dr Douglas Campbell from Minomic, secured a National Health and Medical Research Council Development Grant for $703,540.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australian men after lung cancer, accounting for about one-third of cancers diagnosed. One in five men over the age of 50 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and each year 3,300 Australians die from the most aggressive forms of the disease.
The project, Novel prostate cancer target for diagnosis, imaging, detection of recurrence and response to therapy, will generate the critical new data for a new, non-invasive test developed by industry partner Minomic and provide information concerning the potential of the biomarker for imaging and treatment of late stage prostate cancer.
"This new target in prostate cancer has been identified for use in early detection, imaging, and therapy of the disease," Professor Nelson, executive director of the APCRC-Q, said.
"This project aims to explore how this target can be better used for early detection and monitoring of prostate cancer and the extent to which it can be used as both a new prostate cancer therapy and an imaging agent to monitor treatment and improved prostate cancer management with significant economic benefit to the healthcare system."
Professor Walsh, chief executive officer of Minomic, said a recently completed 300 patient clinical study had shown "very promising results".
"This project will support development of this novel biomarker in prostate cancer, which would bring significant benefit in terms of improving diagnosis of aggressive forms of the disease," he said.
"Minomic is commercialising a non-invasive test that detects a protein found on prostate cancer cells, producing a more accurate diagnosis."
The APCRC-Q is based at the Translational Research Institute (TRI) on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus in Brisbane.
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
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