Titled "Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis: Biology and Targeting," the collaboration consists of three separate but interrelated projects. The overall project will be led by Leland Chung, PhD, director of Urological Research in Emory University's Department of Urology, and will bring together investigators from Emory's School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Departments of Urology, Pathology, Biostatistics, and School of Public Health. In addition, researchers from the University of Delaware, University of Virginia, Stanford University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will participate.

"The strength of this project is its interactive nature," said Dr. Chung, who is a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar. "We are all looking at different parts of the metastasis problem, and the laboratory activity is highly interactive. This project is organized to achieve synergy among individual scientists who have an established track record of research collaboration."

Nearly 90 percent of all prostate cancer patients who die from the cancer experience bone metastasis. "The ultimate goal of this project," said Dr. Chung, "is to develop novel diagnostic, prognostic and treatment options based on a better understanding of the mechanics of prostate cancer and bone metastasis."

The three primary projects are:

• The Biology of Tumor-Stroma Interaction, which will be led by Dr. Chung. This project will study the biology of the interaction between metastatic human prostate cancer cells and bone or prostate stroma, which contributes to localized cancer growth, invasion and distant metastasis. The purpose is to develop potential molecular or genetic targeting strategies for treatment of prostate cancer
  '"/>