Tumour bank to help fight prostate cancer

NEW treatments for a disease which claims the lives of more than 500 Irishmen each year are hoped to be developed with the establishment of the country’s first prostate tumour bank.

Details of the new research facility were announced yesterday in conjunction with the formal launch of a new consortium on prostate cancer research involving medical experts from leading hospitals and educational centres.

It is estimated almost 400 samples of tumours from men with early stage and advance prostate cancers will be deposited with the tissue bank over the next three years.