Modelling the three-dimensional prostate cancer microenvironment in vitro to study tumour-stroma interactions in localised disease

This thesis explored the role of the tumour microenvironment in the development and progression of prostate cancer using tissue engineering and quantitative proteomics. First, a novel 3D tissue engineered model of prostate cancer was developed, which incorporated patient cells to closely mimic the human prostate. Using this model it was found that mast cells, an infiltrating immune cell population, promotes prostate cancer progression. In parallel, proteomic analysis of prostate fibroblasts identified key proteins that increase the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. These studies will now provide the framework to develop new anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer.