A protein found in the
prostate gland could hold the key to developing a more
accurate screening test for prostate disease, University of
Otago researchers say.
The promising research focuses on clarifying the role of a
recently-discovered growth regulator called activin C.
This protein is also a potential therapeutic target that
could one day be used to combat invasive prostate cancer.
Dr Elspeth Gold, a University of Otago graduate who is
principal investigator in the research project, said that the
scientists involved were "incredibly excited" about the
activin C research.
The fact that Otago University biomedical researchers had
recently gained $950,000 in funding from the Health Research
Council of New Zealand showed that the three-year research
project was considered promising, Dr Gold said.
"It looks like we're on the right track," she observed.
The three-year project was focused on the likely role of
activin C in promoting prostate cancer growth.
About one in four New Zealand men aged over 55 would suffer
from some form of prostate disease, statistics showed.
Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed form of
cancer diagnosed in males and was the third highest cause of
cancer-associated deaths in New Zealand in 2004.
Activin C was a naturally occurring protein in the prostate
gland, where it played a part in regulating cell growth.
When present at increased levels, the protein disrupted the
normal regulatory mechanisms in the prostate, which led to
abnormal cell growth, Dr Gold said.
Dr Gold and her fellow researchers hypothesised that in such
instances activin C had the potential to promote prostate
cancer development.
Dr Gold, who is a Research Fellow at the Monash Institute of
Medical Research, at Australia's Monash University in
Melbourne, said the planned basic research would help
determine whether activin C was circulating in the
bloodstream, and whether it could be useful as a more
accurate diagnostic test for prostate cancer than the current
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test.
The PSA test does not discriminate between benign diseases
and prostate cancers that will remain organ-confined, versus
aggressively spreading metastatic prostate disease.
Early detection and timely treatment can reduce cancer
mortality, hence the need to improve existing methods for the
early diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Born in Balclutha, Dr Gold has an Otago doctorate in anatomy.
She will return to Dunedin in November to continue the
research at the Otago department.
Dr Gold has been working with Prof Gail Risbridger at the
Monash Institute for the past seven years.
The continuing collaborative research will also include Prof
Risbridger and Prof Helen Nicholson, of the Otago anatomy
department.
