UPDATE - Issue 05 - March 2000
Our trustees award six new Research grants
The trustees of Prostate Research Campaign UK had the difficult task recently of selecting just six projects to support from the two dozen applications they had received. After the meeting one of them said "The standard of proposed research was extremely high. The large number of new ideas and the diversity of research themes illustrate just how much could be spent in worthwhile ways if only the money was forthcoming". The six selected are:
The impact of comorbidity on outcome after transurethral resection
of the prostate (TURP).
Dr O'Connell, Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Comorbidity is the situation which occurs with older people where other clinical conditions exist as well as the illness condition being treated - in this instance, benign enlargement of the prostate. A scoring system has been developed of patients' assessment of the severity of all their symptoms from whatever cause. One question to be answered in this study is whether the scoring system can be used to determine the impact of comorbidity on the patient's perception of post operative outcome following TURP.
The role of Adamalysinthrombospondins in prostate tumourigenesis.
Mr Riddick, University of East Anglia.
The aim is to understand more about a family of enzymes that facilitate tumour growth. This research might help the identification of patients with early stage prostate cancer who are at greatest risk of progression to metastatic disease.
Non-invasive diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction.
Dr Robson, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
A study will be carried out of a technique for measuring bladder pressure during urination. The aim is to determine its efficacy in routine use in prostate assessment clinics. If successful the treatment would significantly lower the percentage of men who have operations for bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms without a successful outcome.
The potential application of NK4 as an anti prostate cancer agent.
Dr Jiang, Prof Mason. University of Wales.
NK4 is a recently discovered potential inhibitor of both growth and spread of prostate cancer. It is thought to operate by inhibiting the supply of blood to the cancer cells. This study will take the work further forward by testing prostate cancer cells extensively for invasiveness and growth in vitro and in mice.
Treatment of chronic abacterial prostatitis with Zafirlukast.
Dr Goldmeier, St. Mary's Hospital, London.
Zafirlukast has a treatment licence in the UK for the treatment of asthma, where it has distinct anti-inflammatory effects as as acting as a bronchodilator. The hypothesis to be tested in this study is that Zirfulakast can decrease the symptoms of patients with antibacterial chronic prostatitis by decreasing the inflammation in the prostate. The double blind trial will involve some 60 patients 30 of whom will receive placebo and 30 the drug.
Dietary phyto-estrogens, prostate cancer and gene environment interactions;
an epidemiological study.
Professor Alexander, University of Edinburgh.
1000 men in Scotland will take part in the study - 400 with prostate cancer, 400 from the general population and 200 with BPH who have already been examined to rule out asymptomatic cancer. Two questions will be answered. First, whether plant estrogens are lower in the diet of men with cancer than in the general population and second, whether ethnic variation in the incidence of cancer is explained in part by genetic and dietary factors working together.