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Hormone research uncovers new findings for prostate cancer

16 April 2008

Post-doctoral research fellow Preetika Balanathan has won one of only nine Post Graduate Support Grants worth $24,000.

Post-doctoral research fellow Preetika Balanathan has been awarded a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Post Graduate Support Grant of $24,000 to assist her research into the biological processes that cause prostate cancer as it progresses into different stages.

Mrs Balanathan is one of nine researchers selected for the grant from more than 300 applications.

The prostate is dependent on the male hormone testosterone in conjunction with a sequential system that allows for healthy development and maintenance.

Disruption of this system can induce the loss of regulatory controls and could be a cause of prostate cancer.

"We have discovered that when prostate cancer is still in the hormone-dependent stage there is a growth factor known as inhibin-alpha (INHA) which acts as a tumour suppressor," Ms Balanathan said.

"However when the cancer progresses it moves to a hormone-independent-stage and the role of INHA changes, losing its tumour suppressive role and/or gaining the ability to promote tumour growth and spread of the disease."

The funding will allow Dr Balanathan to expand the scope of this important work and determine the biological mechanisms involved in the different activities of INHA at different stages of the disease.

"We hope to develop a greater understanding of the roles of INHA and why these roles change in different stages of the disease. This will allow us to know when treatments would be most effective."

GSK Post Graduate Support Grants are designed to support promising research in the field of human health and are part of ongoing efforts to improve the outcomes and educational benefits of medical research.