Translational Research

APCaRI > Translational Research

Translational Research

Translational research transforms scientific discoveries arising from fundamental studies into clinical applications to improve outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. Members of this team work together to employ innovative new technologies for biomarker discovery, detection and quantification that have been developed independently in internationally-recognized efforts in Alberta and bring them to bear on a common goal – developing better tests for prostate cancer.

The combination of prognostic biomarkers from distinct aspects of prostate cancer progression resulted in a test that is more sensitive, more accurate and more cost effective than current tests for prostate cancer.

Our overall goal is to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by translating novel tests to the clinic that are more sensitive, more accurate and more cost-effective than current tests for prostate cancer. No one dies from prostate cancer that is localized to the prostate – the spread, or metastasis, of prostate cancer is what makes it so dangerous. The five year survival rate for localized prostate cancer in North America is close to 100%, yet this drops to 30% for metastatic disease. The metastasis of prostate cancer is driven primarily by changes in growth factors, extracellular proteases, and the cell migration machinery. Biomarkers that are involved in these processes are prognostic for metastatic prostate cancer and their integration into a single powerful test are the focus of this multi-disciplinary team.

Our team is integrating internationally-recognized efforts in the characterization of tumour cell migration, growth factor signaling and protease-activated receptors to develop novel multiplex tests to more accurately predict outcomes in prostate cancer.

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Prostate Cancer Canada’s Step Up Challenge 2019!

Prostate Cancer Canada’s Step Up Challenge 2019 pits endurance and drive against multistory office tower stairwells and gravity to raise funds for local prostate cancer research projects and initiatives in four Canadian cities. Heroic participants challenged the stairs in Toronto and Calgary on March 3rd, still to come is Vancouver on March 10th and Edmonton on March 17th (St. Patricks day!).

Congratulations to Calgary’s Step Up Challenge event participants who raised 111% of their $95 000 goal! These proceeds will support Dr. Tarek Bismar’s team at the University of Calgary. They are using blood samples from men with slow-growing prostate cancer that has not spread outside the prostate to determine if their disease is likely to advance. Learn more about this project from APCaRI and the Prostate cancer Collaborative Research Alliance.

Edmonton’s Step Up Challenge event is actively raising funds to support Dr. Kerry Courneya’s team at the University of Alberta, with 30% of the $65 000 goal reached currently. Dr. Courneya is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer and Director of The Behavioral Medicine Laboratory and Fitness Center. This project is being led by doctoral student Dong-woo (Derek) Kang and will study whether exercise can reduce tumour growth and anxiety for men on active surveillance. Learn more about this project that could contribute to delaying, or even eliminating, the need for treatment from the Behavioral Medicine Laboratory and Fitness Center.

Dr. Kerry Courneya

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Please support the Edmonton Step Up Challenge 2019 as either a participant, or donor, or both!
The Lewis lab has entered Team Nanosteps into the challenge, check out our fundraising page and support the team by clicking on this link and making a secure online donation using your credit card.

Kerry Courneya’s Behavioral Medicine Lab team is also hitting the stairs, please click here to go to their Step Up Challenge team page to sponsor them with a donation as well!

Thanks in advance for any support you are able to provide. Get your runners and see you on March 17th!

- Perrin Beatty