Development of a non-invasive liquid biopsy for prostate cancer: Identification of unique exosome microRNA (exomiR) signatures in patient body fluids for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Sydney Vital (Sydney Vital Flagship 1 Seed Funding)

Start year: 2015

Summary: One in six Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in their lifetime. Exosomal microRNA (exomiR) biomarker profiles are currently under intense investigation for their non-invasive cancer diagnostic, prognostic and response to therapy value. This study aims to develop a non-invasive and robust clinical real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) test for patient body fluid exomiR signatures to improve early and advanced prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We anticipate this test will allow the discrimination of indolent from aggressive disease and replace the need for prostate biopsy. We currently collect PCa patient body fluids with urological surgeon A/Prof Paul Cozzi and his clinical teams. This invaluable collaboration has allowed us to establish the UTS PCa Body Fluid Collection, that provides the unique samples for cancer biomarker discovery which is central to this project.

Keywords: Prostate cancer, biomarker, exosome, microRNA profile

FOR Codes: Cancer Diagnosis, Men's Health

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.