Monday 5 June 2000
The UK's and Europe's first dedicated Male Cancer Research Centre has been built at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey, and will be up and running by the end of the summer.
The £3.2 million centre, which was funded by The Institute's everyman campaign and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, will have the most extensive programme of research into the causes of prostate cancer in Europe. There will also be a major focus on testicular cancer, and other male urological cancers such as bladder and kidney.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer, with around 19,500 diagnoses and 9,500 deaths each year. However, funding for work on the disease is still very low - just 5 per cent of the total spend on cancer research.
Scientists already working at The Institute will move into the centre, and share their expertise in a co-ordinated research programme looking at the causes and underlying mechanisms of cancer, and new treatments.
Some specific examples of prostate cancer research, either in progress or being planned at The Institute, include the following:
Research into Diet - There is already strong evidence from previous trials to suggest that raising selenium levels in the diet could protect against the development of prostate cancer. Dr Judith Bliss at The Institute of Cancer Research, in collaboration with Dr Margaret Raymon at the University of Surrey and experts in Sweden and Denmark, are looking for funding to start a trial to establish conclusive results, involving 32,000 people. Selenium is a trace mineral present in soil which is absorbed into the food chain through plants. Selenium levels in the UK diet are very low - two thirds less than the USA, and lower than most European countries. Levels in the British diet have dropped over the last 25 years because we have stopped importing selenium-rich wheat from the USA. The trial would involve 10,000 people in the UK being given a supplement of placebo or varying doses of selenium.
Cancer Screening - The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is used widely in the USA to screen for early prostate cancer. A key issue that must be addressed is whether this test should also be introduced in the UK. The Medical Research Council has as The Institute to participate in the submission of a full proposal to introduce a national screening evaluation trial for the Prostate Specific Antigen test, with a view to starting the trials in April 2001.
Genetic Predisposition to Prostate Cancer - around 10-15 per cent of prostate cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Dr Ros Eeles at The Institute heads up Britain's largest study of familial prostate cancer, with a collection of over 240 families to assist in the search for prostate cancer genes. Dr Eeles is also conducting a study to assess the impact of the environment on the development of hereditary prostate cancer.
The broad areas of research into prostate cancer which will be covered at The Institute and in the new Centre are:
- Development of molecular and genetic diagnosis including use of the 'cancer chip'
- Development of better hormone therapies in advanced cases of the disease.
- Improving radiotherapy in the early stages of the cancer
- Understanding those factors in the environment and diet which cause prostate cancer.
- Psychological studies to develop a better understanding of the needs of men with prostate cancer
The Centre will be headed by The Institute's Professors Colin Cooper and Alan Horwich. Professor Cooper comments:
"It is shocking that there has been no centre in Europe dedicated to prostate cancer research before now. Our scientists will be collaborating in a co-ordinated programme of research to understand this disease which at the moment we know so little about, as well as focusing heavily on testicular cancer, and the other urological cancers which afflict men. "
The Institute has a track record of success in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer - particularly with its innovative conformal radiotherapy technique which was developed here to reduce side effects and improve mortality, and is now available across the country.
Its record is also impressive for testicular cancer research, with the development of a platinum drug in the 1970s that led to today's 90 per cent cure rate, and in the use of innovative radiotherapy techniques. Most recently,
The Institute's Professor Mike Stratton led the team that localised the first hereditary testicular cancer gene. The programme of research into testicular cancer at the Centre will include:
- Genetic research to identify further genes responsible for familial cancer
- Development of less radical treatments which will reduce side effects such as sterility
- Understanding factors in the diet and environment which cause testicular cancer.
Dr Peter Rigby, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research says:
"I am proud that the first dedicated male cancer research centre in Europe has been built at The Institute of Cancer Research. It is about time that prostate cancer was given the focus it deserves. For too long it has been branded a disease of older men. We must wake up to the fact that men in their sixties and seventies could have another twenty or more years to live.
I am also delighted that we will be expanding our excellent research programme into testicular cancer, and would like to credit The Institute's own everyman campaign and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, for raising the funds for this building.
We now need another £2 million each year to run the centre and develop the research programme so it is essential that the public become more aware of the need to support this research."
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Notes for Editors
- Fact sheets on prostate and testicular cancer and the Male Cancer Research Centre (building and research programme) are available from The Institute of Cancer Research Press Office.
- Some of the research mentioned in this press release is funded by The Cancer Research UK (Dr Ros Eele's genetic study, the development of conformal radiotherapy, and drug development)
For further press information please contact The Press Office on
Tel: 0207 970 6030
email: [email protected]
or Michele Corrado at MORI on 020 7928 5955
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.