GCI Trainee Chloe Liu Shares her Research for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, scientists at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Institute (GCI) are sharing the crucial role that their research plays in improving prostate cancer patient outcomes. Chloe Liu is a PhD candidate in the Bouchard-McCaffery lab, who is conducting research at the GCI to understand how prostate cancer develops. Her goal is to tailor treatments that maximize patient benefits while minimizing unnecessary interventions.

Chloe described the challenge her research aims to address: “I study prostate cancer, which is one of the most common cancer in men and can be deadly if not treated early. However, not all prostate cancers should be treated because some grow very slowly and do not pose a threat to the patient's health. Treating non-harmful cancer can cause negative side effects without any health benefits to the patients.”

To determine which prostate cancers may pose a threat to patients, Chloe’s research focuses on precursor cells. “I want to understand how normal cells turn into aggressive cancer. Why do certain cells become aggressive, but others do not? There is this stage called the precursor stage that the cells are not normal, yet they have not developed into cancer. However, the cells are likely to become cancerous. I study what this precursor stage is about and how our understanding of it may improve current treatment plans,” she explained.

Patient experiences and the importance of personalized care are at the centre of her research goals, Chloe shared. “With my research, I hope to better distinguish the problematic cells from the non-problematic ones early, so patients who will develop aggressive cancer can be treated early and patients who will not be affected by the cancer in their lifetime do not need to receive unnecessary treatments.”

Chloe Liu’s dedication to improving the precision of cancer care underscores the potential of research conducted at the GCI to transform outcomes for patients facing prostate cancer. Her quest to find the knowledge to cure prostate cancer brings us closer to a future where prostate cancer treatment is effective and personalized, ultimately saving lives through quality care.