Grant: Project Grant

The diagnosis of prostate cancer, the most frequent cancer among Canadian men, is fraught with recurrent difficulties in establishing the aggressiveness of the disease (prognosis). Indeed, with a wide spectrum of possible therapeutic options, the prognosis of prostate cancer has to be well-defined in order to better individualize that treatment. Accordingly, using a laser-based molecular characterization method (Raman spectroscopy), we previously identified key features of a marker of prostate cancer aggressiveness, intraductal carcinoma of the prostate. In this project, we first aim to verify how each of these key feature can be used clinically to improve the identification of this aggressive variant of prostate cancer. To do this, we will use a special type of Raman spectroscopy, which is based on the targeted evaluation of one key feature at the time. In parallel, since Raman spectroscopy features involves many underlying molecules, we aim at exploring which of these molecules are responsible for the modifications we observed using the laser-based method. To do this, we will use mass spectrometry, a technique which allows to identify specific molecules according partly to their weight. Overall, this study will not only provide a comprehensive understanding of our previous results, but it will in parallel establish a clinically applicable method and provide a unique opportunity to identify new potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic biomarkers of prostate cancer.