Funding boost for Nottingham prostate cancer research

Researchers said the genes acted like "instruction manuals" for cells

A research project that could lead to new treatment to prevent prostate cancer has received £270,000 in funding.

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have studied how prostate cancer tricks cells to ignore signals to stop uncontrollable growth.

It is hoped the project could lead to new clinical trials.

The research has been boosted by funds from charity Prostate Cancer UK's career acceleration programme.

Corinne Woodcock, leading the research project for the university, said the genes acted "like instruction manuals" to tell cells "how to normally function".

"In cancers, such as prostate cancer, this doesn't function as it normally should and so this project is looking at this bookmarking system," she said.

"[This] project will be looking at how to understand more the biology of this instruction manual, and how we could use it to understand different treatment options for the future for prostate cancer patients."

'Shocking' inequality

Researchers in institutions around the world will work with Nottingham academics on the project.

Dr Woodcock, whose grandfather died from prostate cancer three years ago, said she hoped the research would benefit the families of patients as well as those undergoing treatment.

"We work closely with the Nottingham patient support group, and you can see how it affects everyone, so our goal is to improve the lives of the patients," she said.

Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said the research "has the potential to rapidly advance into clinical trials for prostate cancer".

"It's important that we are supporting research in Nottingham, as we've identified a shocking regional inequality in the UK," he said.

"More men in the Midlands are diagnosed with prostate cancer at an advanced stage than in London.

"At Prostate Cancer UK we are working tirelessly to address this, and to make sure more men know about their prostate cancer risk in the Midlands and everywhere in the UK."