Why? In the European Union ~200.000 men are diagnosed
with prostate cancer every year and that number is likely to
increase due to a growing population at risk due to ageing. Because
of the progress made in the treatment of the primary tumor,
mortality in cancer patients is increasingly linked to metastatic
disease; often occult (= micrometastasis
or â€minimal residual diseaseâ€) at the time
of diagnosis/therapy of the primary tumor.
Understanding the complex mechanisms
of metastasis (circulating tumor cells - micrometastasis -
metastasis) at the molecular and physiological level is crucial for
successful detection of minimal residual disease and for evolving
possible strategies for the prevention of their development into
overt metastasis.
How? In this project called PROMET we intend to
elucidate the mechanisms and the signature of minimal residual
disease in prostate cancer and to develop novel therapeutic
approaches to prevent the development of minimal residual disease
to overt metastasis.
The goal
is to identify at least 2 signal
transduction targets and to develop a diagnostic test for the
detection of the presence of minimal residual disease and to define
a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease in
prostate cancer.
Thus, earlier detection and
disease-specific treatment may decrease morbidity and mortality and
ultimately have an impact on socio-economical
costs.
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