New Prostate Cancer Screening Website Launched
Visit the IMPACT website
09 October 2006 - The Institute of Cancer Research, together with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, has launched a new website to further the development of prostate cancer screening. Aimed at the public, patients, family members and healthcare professionals, it contains information about IMPACT, an international screening study, targeted at men with a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer. The IMPACT website also contains general information on prostate cancer, screening and genetics.
What is IMPACT?
IMPACT stands for Identification of Men with a genetic predisposition to ProstAte Cancer: Targeted Screening in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls. Current research suggests that men with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
The IMPACT study is being led by The Institute of Cancer Research’s Dr Rosalind Eeles, Team Leader in . Find out more about Dr Eeles’ prostate research.
Since its introduction in the 1980s the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has become the backbone of prostate cancer screening, but it has also caused a high level of controversy.
A large proportion of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer never actually experience any clinical symptoms or a reduction in lifespan as a result of this disease. A major problem with the PSA test is its inability to differentiate between aggressive and clinically insignificant forms of prostate cancer. The IMPACT study will evaluate whether the PSA test can improve early detection of disease in men who carry BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. IMPACT will also be collecting additional urine and blood samples to facilitate the development of a more reliable screening protocol for prostate cancer.
About the IMPACT website
Development of the IMPACT website was funded under the European Commission (EC) Framework 6 Programme, as part of AIDIT, a project designed to aid the expansion of IMPACT into those countries new to, or soon to join, the European Community. The website consists of three sections:
For the public
Provides patients, family members and healthcare professionals with general information on the IMPACT study, in addition to information on prostate cancer, screening and genetics.
IMPACT for researchers
The researchers’ section provides scientific and medical information about IMPACT, FAQs, a discussion forum, as well as the latest IMPACT documents and news.
IMPACT for researchers and healthcare professionals in Eastern Europe
The AIDIT project, funded by EC Framework Programme 6, aims to extend the IMPACT study across Europe, particularly into those countries new to, or soon to join, the European Community. The website provides information about IMPACT for researchers and healthcare professionals working in these countries.
