PROCURE BIOBANK RESEARCH PROJECT
Characterizing the genetic changes of 100 lethal prostate cancer patients
PROCURE partners with Cedars Cancer Foundation and Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network to finance $2.6M prostate cancer research project
MONTREAL (Quebec), November 18, 2022 – In honour of Prostate Cancer Awareness Day in Quebec and International Men’s Day, both approaching on November 19, PROCURE is partnering with the Cedars Cancer Foundation and Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network to invest $2.6 million in its largest prostate cancer research project to date. This funding will go towards characterizing the genetic changes of 100 prostate cancer patients taken from PROCURE’s Biobank to perform a large-scale genomic analysis of the lethal form of prostate cancer.
This genetic research study will be made possible due to PROCURE’s Biobank, a large collection of biospecimen and clinical data from prostate cancer patients treated by surgery from across Quebec. It was established in 2007 to better understand prostate cancer and power investigations into new diagnostics and treatments. PROCURE is Quebec’s only charitable organization dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer. 4,380 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year— about 12 each day.
“At PROCURE, we’re dedicated to combatting prostate cancer. This is the most common form of cancer in men, and, despite some spectacular advances, its causes remain unknown. We’re hopeful that this investment in world-class research will help provide a clearer picture of this disease in hopes to better understand this disease and treat it more effectively and efficiently,” said Laurent Proulx, President & CEO of PROCURE.
To help in this fight, PROCURE and the Cedars Cancer Foundation (Cedars) are investing $1 million each in the project, in addition to the funds from the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope program. The project is being carried out by a team of scientists, under the leadership by Drs. Armen Aprikian and Simone Chevalier of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and includes the following collaborators Dr Fred Saad from the CHUM, Dr Michel Carmel from the CHUS and Dr Louis Lacombe from the CHUQ.
Cedars is the funding arm of the MUHC’s fight against cancer. It supports the hospital’s Cancer Centre, which bears its name, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC.
“Our mission at Cedars is to improve the health and wellbeing of MUHC cancer patients and their families, by supporting excellence and innovation in research, education, clinical care, and supportive care services,” said Jeff J. Shamie, President and CEO of Cedars. “That’s why we’re very proud to be part of this leading-edge research project.”
The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network unites the top-tier cancer researchers and clinicians in Canada to share their data, apply exciting new technologies, and deliver the best outcomes for all cancer patients.“We are incredibly grateful to PROCURE and the Cedars Cancer Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network,” says Michael Mazza, Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation. “They join an unprecedented collaboration between hospitals, universities, and institutes across Canada coming together to change the future of cancer research.
ABOUT PROCURE
PROCURE is a charitable organization in the fight against prostate cancer. It raises prostate cancer awareness while supporting and providing information to those touched by this disease. The organization promotes and helps finance world-class research.
procure.ca
ABOUT THE CEDARS CANCER FOUNDATION
The Cedars Cancer Foundation (Cedars) is a charitable organization that is the funding arm of the MUHC’s fight against cancer. It aims to ease the pain and suffering caused by cancer, regardless of the patient’s age. Cedars supports the hospital’s Cancer Centre, which bears its name, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC. Cedars is also a founding partner of the Rossy Cancer Network, which brings together McGill University and its teaching hospitals to improve the quality of every patient’s experience and care outcome.
www.cedars.ca
ABOUT THE MARATHON OF HOPE CANCER CENTRES NETWORK
The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network is the realization of a long-standing vision of the Terry Fox Research Institute. Inspired by Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, the network represents a powerful collaborative platform that will close the gap between research in the lab and patient care in the clinic. Just as Terry Fox united Canadians with his run and dream to end cancer, the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network will unite cancer researchers to pursue that same goal with precision medicine.
marathonofhopecancercentres.ca
Thanks to our generous individual and corporate donors and to our major donor, iA Financial Group.
MEDIA CONTACT
For all press inquiries, please contact:
Gabrielle Brouillard
gbrouillard@yhp.co
514-922-6983
For more information about PROCURE:
Laurie Letendre
laurie.letendre@procure.ca
PROCURE BIOBANK RESEARCH PROJECT
PROCURE BIOBANK RESEARCH PROJECT
PROCURE BIOBANK RESEARCH PROJECT
Characterizing the genetic changes of 100 lethal prostate cancer patients
PROCURE partners with Cedars Cancer Foundation and Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network to finance $2.6M prostate cancer research project
MONTREAL (Quebec), November 18, 2022 – In honour of Prostate Cancer Awareness Day in Quebec and International Men’s Day, both approaching on November 19, PROCURE is partnering with the Cedars Cancer Foundation and Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network to invest $2.6 million in its largest prostate cancer research project to date. This funding will go towards characterizing the genetic changes of 100 prostate cancer patients taken from PROCURE’s Biobank to perform a large-scale genomic analysis of the lethal form of prostate cancer.
This genetic research study will be made possible due to PROCURE’s Biobank, a large collection of biospecimen and clinical data from prostate cancer patients treated by surgery from across Quebec. It was established in 2007 to better understand prostate cancer and power investigations into new diagnostics and treatments. PROCURE is Quebec’s only charitable organization dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer. 4,380 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year— about 12 each day.
“At PROCURE, we’re dedicated to combatting prostate cancer. This is the most common form of cancer in men, and, despite some spectacular advances, its causes remain unknown. We’re hopeful that this investment in world-class research will help provide a clearer picture of this disease in hopes to better understand this disease and treat it more effectively and efficiently,” said Laurent Proulx, President & CEO of PROCURE.
To help in this fight, PROCURE and the Cedars Cancer Foundation (Cedars) are investing $1 million each in the project, in addition to the funds from the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope program. The project is being carried out by a team of scientists, under the leadership by Drs. Armen Aprikian and Simone Chevalier of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and includes the following collaborators Dr Fred Saad from the CHUM, Dr Michel Carmel from the CHUS and Dr Louis Lacombe from the CHUQ.
Cedars is the funding arm of the MUHC’s fight against cancer. It supports the hospital’s Cancer Centre, which bears its name, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC.
“Our mission at Cedars is to improve the health and wellbeing of MUHC cancer patients and their families, by supporting excellence and innovation in research, education, clinical care, and supportive care services,” said Jeff J. Shamie, President and CEO of Cedars. “That’s why we’re very proud to be part of this leading-edge research project.”
The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network unites the top-tier cancer researchers and clinicians in Canada to share their data, apply exciting new technologies, and deliver the best outcomes for all cancer patients.“We are incredibly grateful to PROCURE and the Cedars Cancer Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network,” says Michael Mazza, Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation. “They join an unprecedented collaboration between hospitals, universities, and institutes across Canada coming together to change the future of cancer research.
ABOUT PROCURE
PROCURE is a charitable organization in the fight against prostate cancer. It raises prostate cancer awareness while supporting and providing information to those touched by this disease. The organization promotes and helps finance world-class research.
procure.ca
ABOUT THE CEDARS CANCER FOUNDATION
The Cedars Cancer Foundation (Cedars) is a charitable organization that is the funding arm of the MUHC’s fight against cancer. It aims to ease the pain and suffering caused by cancer, regardless of the patient’s age. Cedars supports the hospital’s Cancer Centre, which bears its name, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC. Cedars is also a founding partner of the Rossy Cancer Network, which brings together McGill University and its teaching hospitals to improve the quality of every patient’s experience and care outcome.
ABOUT THE MARATHON OF HOPE CANCER CENTRES NETWORK
The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network is the realization of a long-standing vision of the Terry Fox Research Institute. Inspired by Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, the network represents a powerful collaborative platform that will close the gap between research in the lab and patient care in the clinic. Just as Terry Fox united Canadians with his run and dream to end cancer, the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network will unite cancer researchers to pursue that same goal with precision medicine.
marathonofhopecancercentres.ca
MEDIA CONTACT
For all press inquiries, please contact:
Gabrielle Brouillard
514-922-6983
For more information about PROCURE:
Laurie Letendre
Discover our animated video!
Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 years old, or have you been having urinary problems for some time now? This video is for you! Several diseases can affect your prostate, and it’s important to detect them early. Let’s take a closer look.
Anatomy
What is the prostate
The prostate is a gland:
- Located between the bladder and the penis, just in front of the rectum;
- Formed of 2 lobes which surround the urethra, a canal that runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine and sperm flow out of the body;
- The size of a walnut, which grows larger in size in your forties;
- That has a soft, spongy texture to the touch like a small, ripe plum.
The prostate is made of:
- Gland cells that secrete liquids for ejaculation;
- Muscle cells that participate in the evacuation of your sperm during ejaculation;
- Fiber cells that maintain the structure of the gland.
Around the prostate, we find:
- The seminal vesicles, glands that produce sperm and that are located on either side of the prostate;
- The vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicle to the seminal vesicles;
- The nerve bundles that control your bladder and erectile function and that are located on either side of your prostate.
Structure
Three main zones of the prostate
Peripheral zone
- The peripheral zone is the largest area of the prostate. It can easily be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal exam (DRE).
- Most prostate cancers start in the peripheral zone.
Transition zone
- This is the area located in the middle of the prostate, between the peripheral and central areas. It surrounds your urethra that runs through the prostate.
- With age, the transitional area increases in size until it becomes the largest portion of your prostate. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.
Central zone
- It is the part of the prostate that is farthest from the rectum. This is why prostate tumors located in this area can not be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal examination.
- If the doctor is in doubt, the following information will help decide if additional investigation is necessary:
- Your PSA level
- Your age and family history
- Your ethnic origin
Fonction
In short
Your fertility and natural fertilization
- It produces … a prostatic fluid rich in enzymes, proteins and minerals that nourishes and protects your spermatozoa.
- It makes … a protein (APS) that is used to liquefy your sperm to facilitate the mobility of your spermatozoa.
- It allows … ejaculation by contracting.
- It promotes … fertility through its enzymes facilitating the penetration of sperm through the cervix.
- It is not related to the mechanism of erection. Therefore, the origin of erectile dysfunction lies elsewhere.
Additional details
Exocrine Function
The prostate is made up of thousands of tiny fluid-producing glands. Specifically, the prostate is an exocrine gland. Exocrine glands are so-called because they secrete through ducts to the outside of the body (or into a cavity that communicates with the outside). Sweat glands are another example of an exocrine gland.
The fluid that the prostate gland produces forms part of semen, the fluid that carries sperm during orgasm. This fluid, produced in the prostate, is stored with sperm in the seminal vesicles. When the male climaxes, muscular contractions cause the prostate to secrete this fluid into the urethra, where it is expelled from the body through the penis.
Urine Flow
The prostate wraps itself around the urethra as it passes from the bladder to the penis. Prostatic changes can affect urine flow. Increasing the size of the prostate or muscle tone may impede the flow of urine due to the close anatomical relationship between the urethra and the prostate.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
The prostate also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is released with the ejaculatory fluid and can also be traced in the bloodstream. The testing of PSA levels in the blood is used to detect prostate cancer. The level of PSA in the blood is usually measured in nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL).
A raised PSA level
Usually, a PSA rate of less than 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood is normal, but age should also be taken into consideration as PSA levels gradually increase with age. A rise in PSA concentration may indicate the presence of:
- An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
- An inflammation or infection of the prostate (prostatitis)
- A prostate cancer
Your doctor will have you undergo other tests to determine the exact cause of the increase in your PSA.
We are here for you
You have questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate. Contact us at 1-855-899-2873 to discuss with one of our nurses specialized in uro-oncology. They are there to listen, support and answer your questions, and those of your family or your loved ones. It’s simple and free, like all of our other services.
Also take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease, our expert lectures, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you, our events and ways to get involved to advance the cause..
Staying Informed
Pages that might interest you
Want to know more? Just click on one of the links below.
The latest PROCURE news that might interest you
Every week we publish a blog article. Here are some for you.
The medical content and editorial team at PROCURE
Our team is composed of urologists, and nurses certified in uro-oncology with a deep knowledge of prostate cancer and other diseases related to the genitourinary system. Meet our staff by clicking here.
Sources and references
- Prostate Cancer – Understand the disease and its treatments; Fred Saad, MD, FRCSC and Michael McCormack, MD, FRCSC, 4th et 5th editions
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Prostate Cancer Foundation-PCF.org
- National Cancer Institute-USA
- American Cancer Society
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Prostate Cancer UK
Last medical and editorial review: September 2023
Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved
