National Health and Medical Research Council

In 2005, by far the most common cancer among men in Australia was prostate cancer (16,349 cases), which made up over 29% of all diagnoses. In the same year 2,949 men died from prostate cancer, making it the second most common cause of cancer related death after lung cancer. The five-year relative survival rate after diagnosis of prostate cancer is 85.3%. [1]

NHMRC funding for prostate cancer research

In the period 2004-09, NHMRC contributed over $45.2 million to Australian research into prostate cancer.

Some NHMRC-funded research projects into prostate cancer

Improving sexual and couple functioning after prostate cancer

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Suzanne Steginga, The Cancer Council Queensland

Treatment for localised prostate cancer has a long term negative impact on the sexuality and quality of life of Australian men and their intimate partners. This study will trial a remote access couples based sexuality intervention for this patient and carer group that has potential for broader translation.

NHMRC Project Grant

Improving sexual and couple functioning after prostate cancer

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Suzanne Steginga, The Cancer Council Queensland

Treatment for localised prostate cancer has a long term negative impact on the sexuality, quality of life, and relationship quality of Australian men and their intimate partners. This study will trial a remote access couples based sexuality intervention for this patient and carer group that has potential for broader translation into community and acute health care settings. This approach will also have broader application for chronic disease self management for other health conditions.

Career Development Award - Population Health

Infections and prostate cancer

Chief Investigator Professor Graham G Giles, The Cancer Council Victoria

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer for Australian men but apart from getting older and having a family history of prostate cancer we do not know what causes it and nothing can be done to prevent it. This project follows up recent suggestions that some prostate cancer might be due to infections by bacteria and viruses. We will look for evidence of infection in blood samples and prostate tissue that we have collected from men with prostate cancer and from controls without prostate cancer.

NHMRC Project Grant

Testing a multidisciplinary, group based intervention to meet the needs of men with prostate cancer

Chief Investigator Dr Penelope E Schofield, University of Melbourne

This study will test an innovative approach to meeting the physical and psychosocial needs of men with early stage prostate cancer using a randomised controlled trial. This novel approach involves a combination of individual and group-based consultations which encourages peer-to-peer support, promotes self-care and enhances appropriate multidisciplinary referrals and communication. It provides a new model of care for patients with chronic diseases that can be translated into clinical practice.

NHMRC Project Grant

Understanding how androgens regulate prostate cancer cell growth

Chief Investigator Professor Peter J Leedman, University of Western Australia

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is dependent upon signaling from male hormones (androgens) for continued growth. We recently identified some novel small RNAs (intracellular messengers), called microRNAs, that are likley to play important roles in maintaining the androgen signaling pathway in prostate cancer. This project will evaluate the functional role of these microRNAs in human prostate cancer, and may provide the foundation for new avenues for investigation.

NHMRC Project Grant

How does cancer spread?

Chief Investigator Dr Elizabeth D Williams, Monash University

The spread of can cer to other organs is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. This proposal seeks to determine how urological tumours (prostate and bladder) spread around the body. Cancer cell and animal models are an integral component of the research, and together with data obtained in human cancer specimens provide a comprehensive, powerful approach to identify key pathways involved in tumour spread. This is critical for the design of new therapies to treat and/or prevent tumour spread.

Career Development Award – Biomedical

Population health modelling, with applications to asbestos-related diseases, cervical cancer and prostate cancer

Chief Investigator Dr Mark Clements, Australian National University

Population health modelling can be used to understand complex systems, through bringing together diverse data sources to answer questions of public health importance. We will apply modelling techniques to three public health areas, including: the effects of HPV testing on cervical cancer screening; the impact of the rapid uptake of PSA screening on prostate cancer incidence and mortality; and projections of the incidence of asbestos-related diseases.

Career Development Award - Population Health

RAVES - Radiotherapy Adjuvant Versus Early Salvage following radical prostatectomy.

Chief Investigator Dr Andrew B Kneebone, University of Newcastle

About hal f of all patients Treated with an operation to remove their prostate cancer have a high chance of the cancer coming back. Giving immediate radiotherapy to all patients will improve cure rates but does not benefit all men and can cause significant side effects. This study explores whether it is safe to wait and only give radiotherapy when there is a rising PSA after surgery indicating active cancer. A total of 470 men from Australasia will enter this study comparing the two approaches.

NHMRC Project Grant

What types of exercise are most effective for reducing the side-effects of treatment for prostate cancer?

Chief Investigator Professor Robert U Newton, Edith Cowan University

Hormone therapy is very effective for treating prostate cancer however it produces a number of side effects including muscle and bone loss, fat gain, and increased risk of death from heart disease and diabetes. In other populations physical exercise has proven particulary effective for preventing such problems however no long term studies with prostate cancer patients have ever confirmed this. Knowledge gained from this study has potential to markedly reduce suffering and increase survival.

NHMRC Project Grant

Sources

1. AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) & AACR (Australasian Association of Cancer Registries) 2008. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. Cancer series no. 46. Cat. no. CAN 42. Canberra: AIHW.