Prostate Cancer Research Group (SAHMRI)

Our internationally-recognised research is tackling localised and metastatic prostate cancer by developing more robust diagnostics tests, biomarkers for responsiveness to current treatments and new drugs for clinical development.

Prostate cancer is a major public health issue, killing approximately 3,300 men in Australia annually. While early stage cancers can be treated with surgery, advanced and metastatic cancers are treated with drugs which block the actions of male hormones, known as androgens. Androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, are critical for normal prostate development and for the growth of prostate cancers. While drugs which target androgen pathways in prostate cancer cells are initially effective, patients eventually relapse and progress to an incurable stage of the disease. More research is needed to improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients.

Our research aims to not only determine the effectiveness of new drugs undergoing clinical development but also to develop robust diagnostic tests to better predict cancer behaviour and assess response to treatment with existing and new prostate cancer drugs. A major focus of these efforts is the lipid metabolic pathway which our group is trying to better understand and exploit to improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer.

To achieve this, we have developed a unique patient-derived explant (PDE) model, which improves the clinical relevance of our data, and increases the likelihood that our research findings will quickly translate to clinical practice.

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Interested in a postgraduate research degree?

We offer exciting opportunities for researchers at the honours, masters and PhD levels. Our research degrees are open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, and range from basic sciences to clinical research. If you are interested in human health, consider furthering your research career with us.

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