Characterizing the three-dimensional architecture of the tumor microenvironment in prostate cancer bone metastasis

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in Canada. While many patients live long lives with treatment, some develop incurable disease that spreads to the bones. When this happens, survival drops sharply and patients often face severe pain, broken bones, and serious complications such as spinal cord damage. Bone changes caused by prostate cancer can look very different: sometimes the bone is eaten away, and other times it becomes overly dense but weak and fragile. Current treatments help slow bone loss and manage pain, but they do not stop the abnormal bone growth or the processes that drive pain. Research shows that prostate cancer cells change their surroundings in bone. They encourage the growth of new blood vessels to feed the tumour and new nerves that both fuel cancer growth and make bones more sensitive to pain. So far, drugs aimed at stopping these changes have not worked well in patients. Our project will use advanced 3D imaging on donated patient bone samples to see exactly how cancer cells, bone cells, blood vessels, and nerves interact. This new understanding could point to better treatments that reduce pain and improve life for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Cox

Student:

Partner:

Göteborgs universitet

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences and Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: