QUB Achieves Breakthrough In Cancer Research

Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behaviours of prostate cancers.

The newly discovered technique could complement traditional assessment methods and allow for more informed treatment decisions for men with prostate cancer.

It also holds the potential to reduce or even replace the need for traditional invasive biopsies.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, but the behaviour of every individual case is extremely variable. While some tumours metastasize rapidly, others can remain harmlessly localised in the prostate gland for years.

The new method uses images from computed tomography (CT) scans that are routinely collected from all patients. The images are then analysed by a computer to extract hundreds of features, termed 'radiomic features', which have the potential to uncover disease characteristics that fail to be seen by the naked eye.

Dr Sarah Osman, Researcher at QUB and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, said the development could change cancer treatment in the future. She explained: "This is the first CT-based radiomics investigation for this treatment site and it is showing very promising results. Although the present study will not revolutionize prostate cancer treatment by itself, it shows what could be possible in the future. We are building on collaborations with other institutes to provide datasets to validate our exciting findings and take this discovery forward."

Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and Director of HSC R&D added: "Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. By supporting research like this, we can ensure that patients have access to the most innovative cancer treatments, and the best preventive strategies can be put in place."



(JG/CM)