Prediction of radiation toxicity in prostate cancer patients using Raman spectroscopy

There are no tests currently available to predict an individual patient's response to radiotherapy. Some patients experience severe long term side effects months and even years after their treatment has finished and these effects can be permanent. For example, some prostate cancer patients develop life-changing bowel and urinary incontinence but it's impossible to predict which ones will be affected. If it was possible to identify at diagnosis those patients at high risk of an adverse treatment response, radiotherapy could be avoided and oncologists could consider treatment alternatives.

This research aims to identify biomarkers to predict treatment response in prostate cancer patients. Blood samples collected from prostate cancer patients prior to receiving radiotherapy will be available for this study. High quality follow up clinical data, including data on treatment toxicity, for each patient will also be available. Biochemical fingerprinting using Raman spectroscopy will be carried out on the patient blood samples, as well as complementary biological -omics analyses. This data together with the follow up clinical data will be used to build predictive models of treatment response. This new approach could result in a more personalised treatment for patients and could lead to improved health and quality of life of men affected by prostate cancer. Ultimately, it would allow prostate cancer survivors to live well after treatment with no severe side effects.

Award Date

27 June 2019

Award Value

€368,637.40

Principal Investigator

Professor Fiona Lyng

Host Institution

Technological University Dublin

Scheme

Investigator Led Projects