COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Oleg Alekseev, MD, PhD, associate professor of physiology and pathophysiology, presented new research data at the 41st European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO 2016) Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. ESMO is Europe’s leading medical oncology society providing a professional network for its members and works with national societies across Europe.
Dr. Alekseev is investigating the expression of t-NASP (t-isoform of Nuclear Autoanigenic Sperm Protein) in the human prostate in normal versus the most common pathological prostate conditions, and presented his findings internationally last year in Italy. Previously, Dr. Alekseev’s research demonstrated that high levels of expression of t-NASP in prostate cancer can be used as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer by detecting the t-NASP protein in prostate cancer biopsies or by detecting the high level of specific anti-tNASP antibodies in blood serum. Currently, his research focuses on the presence of the t-NASP protein in the urine of prostate cancer patients compared to a control group.
The abstract of Dr. Alekseev’s presentation was published in the “Annals of Oncology”, the official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology, and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology.
Dr. Alekseev began his research at UNC-Chapel Hill and continues his work in the Bryan Hall Research Facility at Campbell University. His collaborative efforts have expanded to involve Urology Associates in Lumberton, North Carolina.
“The research project is in an active phase”, said Alekseev. “I would not be able to achieve these results without the help of Campbell medical students who participate in this project and are co-authors of the presentation: Jarvis Vaughn and Josh Fullmer (CUSOM 2018); Blake Taylor, Laura Barba, Jacquelyn Greiner, Cherie Dickson (CUSOM 2017); Chelsey Anderson (CUSOM 2019); and most recently, two first year medical students – Kyle Admire and Brian Gorman. Also, statistical analysis is being provided by Zachary Vaskalis, director of assessment, accreditation and planning at CUSOM. We are full of expectations that the new results and student involvement will put new drive in our future research.”
Dr. Alekseev plans to develop his research into further investigation of the possibilities for the t-NASP protein not only as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer, but also as a method for treating prostate cancer.
“Campbell University and the medical school are very supportive in providing us with a research facility, modern equipment, and a favorable research environment which has allowed the research to continue without hassles or delays,” concluded Alekseev.