In prostate cancer, the major problem is that tumour cells migrate out from the initial site and invade other organs. For prostate cancer, it is primarily brain and bone that are invaded. Patients don’t die from the initial tumour, it is the extra tumours that grow in these distant organs that results in death. Our lab is focused on understanding how and why prostate cancer moves out from the prostate. A few years ago we identified a gene in metastatic prostate cancer that should not be found in the prostate, called Engrailed 2. The normal function of this gene is to direct neurons to connect extensions between one another during brain development. Through research supported by RFD we have identified that Engrailed 2 directs prostate cells to migrate. We have also found that other types of cells can make a natural blocker to Engrailed 2. This proposal is aimed at understanding more about how Engrailed 2 directs prostate cancer to migrate out of the prostate and to identify what this blocker is. Knowing how Engrailed 2 is directing metastasis and the identity of this natural blocker will give us clues into how we can intervene, use this blocker to interupt the metastatic process, and keep prostate cancer in the prostate. One tumour site will allow surgeons to remove all of the cancer.