Prostate Cancer
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics is a strategic research priority at NUI Galway and over the last number of years, NUI Galway and University Hospital Galway have built a strong team of internationally recognised basic and translational cancer researchers and clinicians. NUI Galway's research programmes in this area are focussed on the discovery of molecular mechanisms involved in chromosome dynamics and apoptosis and in the development of novel anti-cancer agents. University Hospital Galway, is the major academic-medical centre in the west of Ireland, and is now one of the very few hospitals in the country with the capability of providing a full comprehensive cancer service (medical, surgical and radiation oncology) on a single site.
Although the statistics for this disease are similar to those of female breast cancer, it receives considerably less publicity or health resources. An Irish man diagnosed with CaP is twice as likely to die of his disease than his US counterpart (Source: SEER database; Cancer in Ireland 1994-2000). This is in part due to a late diagnosis, but there may be other factors involved in this poorer outcome.
CaP is now most frequently diagnosed prior to the onset of any symptoms, using a blood test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). This test when elevated, leads to a biopsy which confirms the diagnosis. Clinical evaluation from a urologist and radiation oncologist ensues, and a treatment recommendations are made. The primary treatment options for CaP include surgery and radiation therapy. The latter now includes both internal radiation implants (brachytherapy) as well as external radiation approaches. Not all patients are cured primarily however, and as of today there is no curative therapy for patients with relapsed CaP. There is an urgent need for the development of effective drugs for use in this situation.
Frank Sullivan is Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Consultant Radiation Oncologist, at Galway University Hospital (GUH). Dr. Sullivan was formerly the Cancer Center Director for Holy Cross Health, Silver Spring MD as well as CEO and Medical Director of Maryland Regional Cancer Care (MRCC), a network of seven radiation centers in Montgomery and Prince Georges Co. Maryland before being recruited to UCHG in 2005. Dr. Sullivan has over 18 years practicing medicine in the USA and held senior appointments in both the private and public sectors. He continues to hold Adjunct Faculty appointments at the National Cancer Institute (USA), and Georgetown University (Washington DC).
Dr. Sullivan is President and Medical Director of International Oncology Study Group (IOSG), a global clinical research company with 180 physician investigators enrolled representing 22 countries. Dr. Sullivan is the Chairman and CEO of Radiation Management Associates (RMA), and Associates in Medical Physics (AMP), both cancer management/service companies, with both public as well as private sector contracts. He is a Principal Investigator on the International Early Lung Cancer Action Project Trial (I-ELCAP), a seminal study in the use of a novel imaging protocol to effectively detect lung cancers. He now has an active interest in prostate and lung cancers, as well as novel radiation techniques including IMRT, stereotactic radiosurgery, etc. He is author of numerous original articles in cancer research, as well as several book chapters in Radiation Oncology.