Vancouver Prostate Centre

04/02/2026

Exciting research is happening for men with high-risk prostate cancer!

Dr. Martin E. Gleave, CM, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Director, Vancouver Prostate Centre, discusses the GUNS trial, which uses tumor genomics to guide personalized treatment before surgery. Early findings suggest this approach can help doctors tailor therapies to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive cancer types.

🌐 Watch the full discussion here:
https://www.urotoday.com/video-lectures/asco-gu-2026/video/5443-guns-trial-examines-biomarker-selected-neoadjuvant-approaches-in-high-risk-prostate-cancer-martin-gleave.html

🌐 Read the VPC News Here!
https://www.urotoday.com/video-lectures/asco-gu-2026/video/5443-guns-trial-examines-biomarker-selected-neoadjuvant-approaches-in-high-risk-prostate-cancer-martin-gleave.html

03/18/2026

The Vancouver Prostate Centre investigators David C. Müller, Andrew J. Murtha, Gillian Vandekerkhove, Alexander W. Wyatt, and Bernhard J. Eigl led a new study published in Nature Communications examining how blood-based genomic testing may improve identification of patients eligible for FGFR-targeted therapy in metastatic urothelial cancer.

The study involved 208 patients across 12 Canadian cancer centres and demonstrated strong agreement between circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing and traditional tumour tissue testing for detecting FGFR alterations. Importantly, ctDNA analysis also identified additional patients with actionable FGFR alterations that were not detected through tissue testing alone.

The findings support integrating ctDNA testing alongside tissue-based diagnostics to improve detection of actionable genomic alterations and expand access to targeted therapies.

🌐Click here for the VPC News:
https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/vancouver-prostate-centre-researchers-led-national-study-supporting-ctdna-testing-fgfr

🌐Click here to read the full study:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69927-7

03/05/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Ewan Gibb, from the Vancouver Prostate Centre, on his new publication in European Urology Oncology!

Even early-stage, low-grade bladder cancers, often considered “low risk,” can recur unpredictably. Dr. Gibb and his team developed a long non-coding RNA-based molecular classifier that uncovers hidden biological risk within these tumors.

“This classifier may help identify tumors that seem low-risk but could recur more frequently, supporting smarter patient care,” says Dr. Gibb.

This research provides additional prognostic insight for patients classified as intermediate-risk and could support a more personalized approach to bladder cancer management.

🌐Click here for the VPC News:
https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/dr-ewan-gibb-develops-molecular-classifier-improve-risk-stratification-early-low-grade-bladder
🌐Click here for the Publication:
https://euoncology.europeanurology.com/article/S2588-9311(26)00057-X/fulltext

02/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Nada Lallous Assistant Professor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine, on being selected as a delegate for Science Meets Parliament BC 2026.
This program brings together scientists and policymakers to support evidence-informed decision-making and highlight the impact of Canadian research.
We are proud to celebrate this recognition!

🔗Learn more here: https://sciencepolicy.ca/programs/science-meets-parliament/smp-2026/smp-bc-2026/smp-bc-2026-delegates-selected/
🔗Read More on VPC News: https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/dr-nada-lallous-selected-delegate-science-meets-parliament-bc-2026

02/11/2026

New research from Dr. Alex Wyatt and his research team at the Vancouver Prostate Centre has been published in Clinical Cancer Research.

The study reports an increase in clonal hematopoiesis following radioligand therapy in metastatic prostate cancer.

The work was led by PhD student Asli Munzur, who presented initial findings at ASCO 2025, and conducted in collaboration with the ANZUP trial group in Australia.

This is an important consideration as Lu-PSMA and other radioligand treatments expand into earlier settings.

🌐 Read the full paper here:
https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-4001

Congratulations Alex, Asli, and team!

02/05/2026

The Vancouver Prostate Centre is pleased to share that Dr. Alex Wyatt has been awarded a $1,005,976 CIHR Project Grant to support research into circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as an early biomarker of treatment response in metastatic prostate cancer.

This four-year project will study blood samples from more than 1,800 patients to help determine how ctDNA testing can improve early evaluation of treatment effectiveness, reduce exposure to ineffective therapies, and support better patient outcomes.

🔗Read more on VPC News!
https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/dr-alex-wyatt-awarded-cihr-project-grant-advance-ctdna-biomarkers-metastatic-prostate-cancer

🔗 CIHR Project Details:
https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=533397&lang=en

Vancouver Prostate Centre

02/04/2026

We’re proud to share exciting news from the Vancouver Prostate Centre!

Dr. Yuzhuo Wang has been awarded over $1.26 million in CIHR funding to advance research into neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC); a highly aggressive form of prostate cancer that can emerge when tumors become resistant to treatment.
These projects will explore key regulators PROX1 and CHD7, helping uncover new strategies for earlier detection, prevention, and therapy.

Learn more through the official CIHR funding decisions:
🔗 https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=534216&lang=en
🔗 https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=554834&lang=en
🔗https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/dr-yuzhuo-wang-awarded-over-126m-cihr-funding-advance-research-aggressive-prostate-cancer

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

01/22/2026

New Prostate Cancer Research Highlight

A new Journal of Clinical Investigation study led by Dr. Xuesen D**g reveals how prostate cancer cells adapt to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The research shows that UGT2B17 supports tumor survival through previously unrecognized, non-enzymatic mechanisms—opening the door to new treatment strategies for advanced, treatment-resistant disease.
A related European Urology Oncology study further demonstrates the prognostic relevance of UGT2B17 using large Canadian cohorts.

Primary publication:
Feng T, Xie N, Gao L, et al.
Non-canonical functions of UGT2B17 promote castrate-resistant prostate cancer progression.
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2025.
PMID: 41343245
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41343245/

Related publication:
Uchil A, Lacombe L, Hovington H, et al.
European Urology Oncology, 2025.
PMID: 40998686
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40998686/

UGT2B17 expression influences hormone levels and identifies a subset of patients at an increased risk of progression to an incurable disease stage. Findings support the notion that enhanced UGT2B17, through increased androgen inactivation, creates a low-androgen tumor environment that drives tumor p...

01/16/2026

Researchers at the Vancouver Prostate Centre have developed Gemini, a new self-amplifying vaccine and nanomedicine platform led by Prof. Wilfred A. Jefferies.

Published in Nature Communications, the Gemini platform demonstrates improved stability, longer-lasting immune responses, and the ability to support larger genetic payloads. These advances may help expand global access to vaccines and support future applications in cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease.

🔗: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66252-3


Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia GenomeBC GovCan - North

The authors present Gemini, their bifunctional replicon platform capable of functioning as either self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) or self-amplifying DNA (saDNA).

01/15/2026

We’re proud to see strong representation from the Vancouver Prostate Centre among the 2026 PCFC Grant-in-Aid Award recipients, announced by Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada.

These awards support initiatives that improve prostate cancer research, education, and community care across Canada.

🔗 Read the full announcement:

Providing leadership & resources in prostate cancer support, awareness, & research since 1997. Now proudly supporting patients and loved ones across Canada.

01/15/2026

Advancing Research in Severe Bladder Cancer

Dr. Peter Black, Director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre, is using cutting-edge proteomic profiling to uncover new insights into aggressive bladder cancers. This research helps guide more precise, targeted approaches to patient care, reflecting VPC’s commitment to advancing cancer research and improving outcomes.
Learn more about the work being done at VPC: https://www.prostatecentre.com/news/advancing-precision-approaches-severe-bladder-cancer

Peter Black, Director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre, is leading research that applies advanced proteomic profiling to improve understanding of severe bladder cancers; an area of significant unmet clinical need.

12/17/2025

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robert Hung-Ngai Ho, C.M., O.B.C.

In 2011, the Vancouver Prostate Centre expanded from the Jack Bell Research Centre into the Robert H.N. Ho Research Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. Inspired by the vision of Dr. Martin Gleave and his team, supported by funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Mr. Robert Ho’s philanthropic generosity, which capped off the required match for the PC TRIADD initiative, a UBC and CFI funded project of over $40M, this expansion helped advance prostate cancer research and patient care across British Columbia.
Mr. Ho’s generosity played an important role in enabling discovery and innovation that continues to benefit patients today. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who were touched by his life.

Learn more about Robert’s legacy of giving: https://vghfoundation.ca/news/a-legacy-of-giving-remembering-robert-hung-ngai-ho-c-m-o-b-c/?utm_campaign=&utm_content=it_is_with_great_sadness_&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook