| THE
IMPACT OF CYTOTOXIC CD* + LYMPHOCYTES REACTIVE TO PSA ON RESIDUAL
DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CANCER
Dr Anthony W. Rowbottom, Dr P. E. Williams and Dr H. Kynaston University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff |
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The project kindly sponsored by Prostate Research Campaign UK has enabled scientists working at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff to investigate the interaction between the immune system and prostate cancer cells post treatment.
The group, under the clinical lead of Professor Howard Kynaston, have identified a population of immune cells, termed cytotoxic CD8 cells. These cells have been shown to recognise cancer cells and to inhibit their cell growth. The mechanism(s) that these cells use and possible ways that they can be enhanced remain unclear and are possible topics for future projects.
Importantly, the group have developed a novel laboratory assay for the detection of these CD8 cells in the peripheral blood and can thus determine whether their presence correlates with long-term protection against disease relapse.
Another aspect of the work funded by Prostate Research Campaign UK has been the development of a molecular technique for the detection of residual disease. The group have published their findings demonstrating that the technique can detect 1 cancer cell in 10 million from a 5ml sample of peripheral blood. They have applied this approach to monitor the rate of cancer cell clearance following radical prostatectomy and shown significant variation between numbers of cells detected immediately after surgery.
Currently, the group are evaluating the number of cells and their impact on long term outcome. It is hoped that by combining the investigation of CD8 cells and the highly sensitive cancer cell screen that those patients who would benefit from additional therapy can be identified at an earlier stage.Research summary dated 29 July 2005
Project 2003/12