CoE-Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence (USUHS)
Abstract
The CPDR is at the forefront of “cutting-edge” clinical, basic science and epidemiologic research. The emphasis is on improving diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer involving new modalities such as MRI guided biopsy, gene-based biomarkers, and precision medicine strategies targeting causal gene alterations in prostate cancer. The CPDR multi-center database is a unique programmatic resource, enrolling over 28,500 DoD health care beneficiaries under suspicion for prostate cancer, with longitudinal follow up to 24 years. This database continues to highlight emerging issues in prostate cancer management such e.g., treatment outcomes, racial/ethnic differences, quality of life and discovery of novel molecular prognostic markers. In light of current issues related to overtreatment of early detected prostate cancers and poorly understood biology of prostate cancer, CPDR’s long-term biospecimen banks, high-impact discoveries and collaborations are leading towards better diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers and therapeutic targets with promise in improving the management of the disease. The CPDR’s health disparity research focus has uniquely benefited from studying a prostate cancer patient cohort, with a high representation of African American men, in an equal-access military health care system. Ground-breaking studies of the most validated prostate cancer gene, ERG, in over 1,500+ patients provide the first definitive information on prostate cancer biology underscoring racial/ethnic differences with potential to enhance personalized medicine. The CPDR’s state-of-the-art research infrastructure and framework is providing education and training for over 100 next generation physicians, scientists, medical and graduate students within DoD medical institutions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- b4fe7e4b511e83152b899d6578f972c9