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The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is leading a UK-first study into whether simple urine and blood tests could help doctors track how advanced prostate cancer responds to treatment.
The Metabolome PC study is looking at patients with metastatic prostate cancer, which is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Patients taking part will give urine and blood samples every three months for a year, as well as having regular CT and bone scans.
The study has been developed and sponsored by researchers at Clatterbridge and the University of Liverpool.
At the moment, doctors use symptoms, blood tests and scans to judge how the disease is responding, but it can behave differently from one person to another.
Researchers want to see whether chemical signals in urine and blood could add extra information.
It is an observational study, which means it can find links but cannot prove a marker should be used to guide treatment. It will not change treatment for anyone taking part, and any promising results would need more research before being used routinely.
Dr Maria Maguire, head of research governance and sponsorship at Clatterbridge, said: "Recruiting the first UK participant here is an important milestone and demonstrates the strength of collaboration between our clinical and research teams."
She added that the study "could help lay the foundations for more personalised monitoring of metastatic prostate cancer in the future".
Earlier this month the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity raised £240,000 for patients and research at its annual ball.
