Saturday, 29 March 2008 - MILAN -  The prostate cancer biomarker research in clinical setting of active surveillance (PROCABIO) is part of the PRIAS study (Prostate Cancer International Study of Active Surveillance) and aims at developing tailored treatment of prostate cancer by new biomarkers.

The launch of PROCABIO is a joint initiative of the department of urology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, and the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). Eleven clinical and academic partners, five commercial partners and two advisory partners are working together under the umbrella of the PRIAS study. "PROCABIO is designed to address the need for targeted therapy through the development and assessment of biomarkers," Prof. Chris Bangma pointed out.

The urgency to find new markers to detect early prostate cancer is supported by recent findings from the ERSPC. "This shows that approximately 50 percent of diagnosed prostate cancers actually have no aggressive features and are slow-growing or indolent," Bangma underlined. Treating these cancers is a "waste of resources". This is leading to a radical change in treatment towards active surveillance: An option for patients with PSA levels lower than 10 ng/ml.

The Rotterdam team is the first to consider PCa-derived exosomes' role as novel biomarkers and "treasure chests" for future treatment options.