Centre for Urological Research Projects

Inhibiting human prostate cancer cell growth

Prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in elderly men, arises in the epithelial compartment of the prostate, however the causative factors of this common malignancy are still unknown. Much of the research to date into prostatic carcinogenesis has focused on epithelial cells and, more specifically, on the genetic changes that occur in epithelial cells as they progress from a normal to a malignant phenotype. However, several lines of investigation have suggested that the environment surrounding the malignant epithelium is vital for sustaining the tumour. Hence the tumour microenvironment (stroma) promotes malignancy by encouraging proliferation and invasion of tumor cells.   Our aim is to test if we can control the cancer cell growth, with the microenvironment, so that they are no longer malignant. Specifically, by replacing the tumour microenvironment that normally surrounds the cancer cells with normal microenvironment. The techniques used in this project will include microdissection of mouse prostate, tissue culture and tissue recombination, histology, immunohistochemistry and PCR.

Supervisor: Dr Brindi Niranjan 
Telephone: +61 3 9594 7341