Professor James Catto awarded £2.9 million in funding by Yorkshire Cancer Research for two major clinical trials

Professor James Catto from the Department of Oncology and Metabolism has been awarded £2.9 million in funding by Yorkshire Cancer Research for two major clinical trials at the University of Sheffield.

The trials, led by James Catto, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Professor and Professor in Urological Surgery, will be supported by Peter Sasieni, Professor of Cancer Prevention at King’s College London and co-ordinated by the King’s College Cancer Prevention Trials Unit.

  • Early detection of bladder cancer in Yorkshire: Feasibility assessments for implementing a targeted study in populations with high disease specific mortality risk (£1,501,844) is a three-year investigation to explore the possibility of an early detection programme for bladder cancer.

Professor Catto said: This funding will allow us to undertake the feasibility steps for a comprehensive early detection programme for bladder cancer across Yorkshire. It will assess how well we can detect bladder cancer in several different Yorkshire populations and will look to confirm the idea has potential to save lives

  • Increasing compliance with Active surveillance: A randomised trial evaluating the role of Finasteride. (The FINESSE Trial) £1,450,166 is a six-year study that will seek to improve the treatment of men with early stage prostate cancer.

Professor Catto said, "Men are reluctant to undergo multiple biopsies and so rely on PSA tests. If PSA levels continue to rise, they may end up having unnecessary treatment. Many men with high PSA levels may have a cancer that would never have caused problems or shortened their lives. Improving active surveillance was the highest research priority selected in the recent national guidelines for prostate cancer management.

"If we can improve active surveillance, we can reduce concerns regarding treating too many men with prostate cancer screening and prostate cancer screening could be introduced in the UK, leading to a reduction in deaths."

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