Using testosterone to treat prostate cancer

DR MITCHELL LAWRENCE

Lab Head, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University

ZOOM:
https://monash.zoom.us/j/86257604825

ID:86257604825

Passcode: 929947

IN PERSON:
CL_16 Rainforest Walk, Room S11, Theatre (Bldg 25)

ABSTRACT

The standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer is ongoing suppression of the androgen receptor pathway. The limitations of this approach are that tumours develop diverse mechanisms of resistance and patients experience mounting side-effects. Another emerging treatment for advanced prostate cancer, known as bipolar androgen therapy (BAT), involves oscillations between suppression and over-activation of the androgen receptor pathway. This presentation will focus on my lab’s preclinical studies of bipolar androgen therapy using patient-derived models of prostate cancer from the Melbourne Urological Research Alliance.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dr Mitchell Lawrence is a Laboratory Head in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University. His research on prostate cancer begins and ends with patients. Working with patient advocates, support groups, community organisations and clinicians, Dr Lawrence identifies critical clinical challenges facing patients. He tackles these challenges through multidisciplinary studies into tumour biology, pathology, and novel therapies. In collaboration with the Melbourne Urological Research Alliance, Dr Lawrence is using patient-derived models to uncover why some patients’ tumours are more aggressive than others and to identify how to treat these tumours more effectively. This is leading to changes in international clinical practice, concurrent clinical trials, and partnerships with industry.