Grant: Project Grant

With the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in prostate cancer, we ran into the problem of over-treatment. Many PSA-identified cancers are clinically indolent and as such removing the prostate of the patient in this case will do more harm than good. Patients with indolent disease will benefit more from conservative approaches like active surveillance (which is to follow up with PSA test, imaging and biopsy without the need to do prostatectomy). A new trend of active surveillance is emerging in Canada, US and worldwide. Currently, up to 30% of prostate cancer patients are directed to surveillance. The problem with active surveillance is that the criteria are not clearly defined and it is a subjective decision by the doctors and the patients. We identified new circulating molecules in the blood that will allow accurate stratification of patients according to disease aggressiveness and will help to guide the treatment decision. Our innovation is patented and is validated in 462 cases. We want to do a second independent validation on large cohort patients (1680 cases from all over the world). We are using a state of art technology called droplet digital PCR. The same test will be also used for patients' follow up under active surveillance and will be able to replace the biopsy which is invasive,expensive, and associated with many complications. The test will represent significant improvement in patients' quality of life by avoiding invasive biopsy and providing accurate assessment of tumors aggressiveness. Study team has filed a patent on the proposed test, and will work with academic advisers, industry partners, and Key Opinion Leaders to evaluate the potential adoption of these testing in the urology clinics.