The primary function of the Department of Cancer Endocrinology is to develop and apply new treatments for endocrine-related cancers. Our present focus is prostate cancer. Our secondary interests are in devising new diagnostic tests for melanoma and identifying new therapeutic targets in progressing T-cell lymphomas.

• The department is staffed by basic scientists, medical/surgical oncologists, and urologists allowing for rapid translation of basic research findings into clinical practice.
• Integrated with the University of British Columbia Prostate Centre (at  Vancouver General Hospital) for clinical trials and patient education.
• Laboratory expertise and facilities for research into molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and in vivo tumour models.
• Appointments in the  Departments of Urology both at the  University of British Columbia and University of Washington.
• Active in the National Prostate Cancer Forum.
• Maintains a Prostate Cancer tumour bank.
• First in Canada to apply the RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) to enable early detection of prostate cancer metastasis.

Inter-disciplinary collaboration between scientists and medical/surgical oncologists and urologists allows basic research, experimental studies and clinical trials to be performed in one department.

See Also: Achievements