Investigating the Predictive Value of Fibroblasts in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer that has not spread around the body is commonly treated by surgical removal of the prostate. While surgery cures many patients, cancer reappears within 5 years in 30% of cases - it may then progress to incurable disease.

Identifying which patients will develop recurrence remains a key challenge, and molecular biomarkers (microscopic markers attached to the cancer) that can distinguish patients at risk are required.

Specialised non-cancerous cells called fibroblasts are found in the prostate and can instruct the cancer to grow and move around. Fibroblasts are known to be over-active in prostate cancer, but it is currently unknown if their presence can indicate the likelihood of recurrence.

This project seeks to establish if activated fibroblasts can predict who will have prostate cancer recurrence. To achieve this, the team will use novel, state-of-the-art imaging techniques to detect the amount, location and type of fibroblasts in the prostate of surgical samples from patients that developed recurrence, compared with those that did not.

The findings have strong potential to identify an urgently needed biomarker that can indicate a patient’s risk of recurrence following surgery, to guide and improve patient care.