Dr. Bernard Candas’ research focuses on two areas. He is a specialist in biostatistics, particularly in the screening and treatment of prostate cancer. He is also an expert in the modelization of the pharmacokinetics in the conversion of steroid precursors. He also studies the kinetics of antiandrogens and antiestrogens for therapeutic applications.

In clinical research, he is responsible for analyzing the data from the most important research protocol aimed at determining the efficacy of screening and early treatment of prostate cancer on the decrease in death rate. The screening is essentially based on the yearly measurement of Prostate Specific Antigen levels (PSA) from a cohort of over 8,000 men, spanning a ten years period. This randomly selected group of men is compared to the control group that receives the standard medical treatment. The experimental treatment consists of a combined hormonal treatment (LHRH agonist and antiandrogen), either alone, or in combination with a radical prostatectomy, or radiotherapy. The conversion of precursors in the adrenals allows for the synthesis of active steroid hormones in other peripheral tissues. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) of adrenal origin, or its sulfated form (DHEA-S), is converted into active androgens or estrogens and subsequently utilized in the same peripheral tissues, without circulating in the plasma. The only evidence of their synthesis is the presence of their metabolites in the plasma. The quantity of active hormones synthesized in peripheral tissues is infered from this plasmatic evidence. This work will contribute to the development of a replacement hormonotherapy treatment for hormono-dependant cancers.

Laverdière J, Gomez JL, Cusan L, Suburu ER, Diamond P, Lemay M, Candas B, Fortin A, Labrie F (1997) Beneficial effect of combination therapy administred prior to during and following external beam radiation therapy in localized prostate cancer. Int. J. Radiation Therapy. 37: 247-252.