Prostate cancer shows distinct tropism to the bone and 90% of men with metastatic prostate cancer have secondary bone tumours. Hormone therapy is the standard of care in advanced prostate cancer and reduces circulating androgen levels, to restrict tumour growth. However, androgens play a fundamental role in skeletal health and are central in maintaining bone formation and growth, therefore men receiving life-long hormone therapy for prostate cancer are at increased risk of skeletal fracture. Studies have shown this is due to androgen dependent effects on bone building (osteoblasts) and bone resorbing (osteoclasts) cells.
We want to unravel the effect of hormone therapy on bone cell function to understand if this impacts on the distinct tropism prostate cancer shows for the bone and investigate if androgen deprived changes in bone cell function could prime or promote invasive and metastatic qualities of prostate cancer cells. We will focus our efforts on osteocytes – the most numerous and long-lived cells present in bone - as these play a central role in bone remodelling and repair by orchestrating and co-ordinating the function and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The impact of hormone therapy on osteocytes has been overlooked.
We will use in vitro cell models to examine the impact of androgen deprived conditions on osteocyte function and investigate the corresponding impact on osteocyte regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast function and activity. We will also assess osteocyte communication with prostate cancer cells though a co-culture model and determine if androgen deprived conditions promote metastatic or advanced prostate cancer qualities. Lastly, bone derived from mice receiving hormone therapy will be used to assess the impact on prostate cancer invasion ex vivo.
This work will inform on the change in skeletal homeostasis following hormone therapy and aid our understanding of advanced prostate cancer metastasis.
A webinar will be held on Tuesday 14th December at 13.00hrs (UK time) to assist you in the application process and tell you a little more about studying for a PhD with us. It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. If interested in joining us please send your name and email address to [Email Address Removed] by Friday 10th December and we will send you a link to the on line meeting
ALL APPLICATION PROCEDURES MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE CLOSING DATE 5th JANUARY 2022
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