Transforming prostate cancer treatment with targeted therapies
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with approximately 52,000 cases reported annually.
Understanding of the disease鈥檚 intricacies remains limited, leading to a standardised treatment approach rather than tailored therapy.
While prostate cancer is a significant contributor to male cancer deaths, in many cases it鈥檚 non-life-threatening so for some patients unnecessary treatments and their side effects could be avoided.
Striking a balance is crucial to ensure aggressive cancers are effectively managed while treatment-related complications are reduced. Improving our understanding of the different types of prostate cancer is needed, so that more personalised treatment can be used.
Expanding the potential for tailored therapies
Researchers from our university and The University of Oxford used artificial intelligence (AI) and whole genome sequencing to analyse DNA changes in prostate cancer samples from 159 patients.
They found that the tumours evolve along multiple pathways creating two different disease types. They differ in how the disease changes over time and were termed 鈥榚volutionary subtypes鈥� or 鈥榚votypes. These findings provided vital insights for classification and treatment.
As part of a follow-up study, the international Pan Prostate Cancer Group consortium is analysing genetic data from thousands of prostate cancer samples across nine countries. The team hopes the findings will revolutionise prostate cancer treatment, offering tailored therapies based on a person鈥檚 genetics, and save many more lives.
This is crucial as it lets us look at the tumour based on how it develops over time rather than just looking at specific gene changes or patterns of gene activity. This hasn鈥檛 been done before because the development of prostate cancer is more complicated than in other cancers.
Enhancing understanding with genetic testing
The research team have since partnered with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) to develop a genetic test. The test, when combined with the standard prostate cancer checks, will give a clearer indication of patient outcomes and the tailored treatment options available.