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PROFILE:

     Formerly CapCure, the Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. The PCF has a single goal: To find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer. The PCF pursues its mission by reaching out to individuals, corporations and others to harness society’s resources - both financial and human - to fight this deadly disease.

      In addition, the PCF’s Scientific Retreat convenes leading cancer researchers, physicians, government officials, the biopharmaceutical industry and others each year to discuss new developments and remove barriers that impede progress.

History:

      Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $230 million and grants have been distributed to more than 1,200 researchers at 100 institutions worldwide. The PCF has been a pioneer in the grant making process, simplifying paperwork for grantees, leaving more time for researchers to conduct needed scientific research. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental resources, resulting in a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer.

Achievements:

• Discovery or early development of key treatments now in clinical trials, including PSMA monoclonal antibodies and the drugs Atrasentan, Velcade and Zometa;

• Development of vaccines that harness the body's immune system to kill prostate cancer cells;

• Development of gene therapy approaches to selectively eliminate prostate cancer cells;

• Identification of the genetic changes that may cause prostate cells to become cancerous;

• Research into stopping the production or function of growth factors that help cancer cells grow;

• Research into stopping the development of blood vessels that feed cancer cells, a process known as anti-angiogenesis;

• Determination of the structure of the prostate cell androgen receptor, which is responsible for the growth of both normal and cancerous prostate cells;

• Identification of prostate cell surface markers that can be targeted to destroy cancer cells; and

• Development of analytical methods that identify the proteins in blood or the prostate that correlate to treatment effect or behavior of the cancer cell, a method known as proteomic pattern recognition.