Research Breakthrough
Research Breakthrough in Bristol!
Money raised from a charity run in Bristol is to be used to fund novel research into ways of improving the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
The money was raised at last year’s Run for the Future organised by Bristol Rotarians and will pay for research scientists to work as part of a joint research team from the University of the West of England and the Bristol Urological Institute at Southmead Hospital.
At present, there is no formal screening programme for prostate cancer as there is for breast cancer in women. Currently only one man in 12 in the UK has the PSA blood test which can be an early indicator of prostate cancer, despite the fact that early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
The new research project will investigate testing urine to see if this could be a more accurate indicator of prostate cancer.
David Gillatt, Senior Urologist from the Bristol Urological Institute, says “early indications are that urine testing could more accurately identify patients with prostate cancer.
“Testing urine instead of blood may make the eventual introduction of a national screening programme possible,” he says. “The urine of someone with prostate cancer may give off certain compounds which can be detected by the latest scientific techniques”
The urine test research is one of two projects to be funded from Run for the Future – the other will examine tissue samples from men who have had more aggressive forms of prostate cancer to look for indicators of which cancers can be most successfully treated.
The 2007 Run for the Future takes place on the Downs in Bristol on Sunday, 16 September, when it is hoped that more than 1,000 runners from all over the South West will take part. Money raised will go to the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal.
More than 30,000 men in the UK suffer from prostate cancer every year and more than 14,000 die from the disease – the 5km event will help fund further vital research.
For further information, or to participate in the event, visit the website at www.runforthefuture.org or phone the Run for the Future office on 0117 9596328 for a Registration form.
