Staff Profile

"I am a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University and Sunderland Royal Hospital. I have a passion for developing better laboratory models of human prostate cancer and adapting novel biosensor technologies to aid the advancement of personalised medicine to my patients. I believe inclusive collaboration between DGHs, teaching hospitals and university departments are the key to successful research."

Stuart studied at Nottingham University Medical School, graduating with honours in 1998. After basic surgical training, Stuart undertook a period of research focusing on targetable molecular pathways in advanced prostate cancer, leading to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). His work was recognised with a European award for the “Best Paper Published on Fundamental Research” in 2009.  He remains very active in the field of prostate cancer research, with his own research team at Newcastle University, and sits on the Executive Board of the Academic Section of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

His urology training was undertaken in the North-East where Stuart is now a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon, dividing his time between Newcastle University and Sunderland Royal Hospital. His clinical specialist interests lie in prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment, all stone surgeries and all aspects of general urology.

Outside of work, Stuart is a keen musician and cyclist. He is married with two children.

• Articles

  • Chau EM, Russell B, Santaolalla A, Van Hemelrijck M, McCracken S, Page T, Liyanage SH, Aning J, Gnanapragasam VJ, Acher P. MRI-based nomogram for the prediction of prostate cancer diagnosis: A multi-centre validated patient–physician decision tool. Journal of Clinical Urology 2022, E-Pub ahead of Print.
  • Lophatananon A, Light A, Burns-Cox N, Maccormick A, John J, Otti V, McGrath J, Archer P, Anning J, McCracken S, Page T, Muir K, Gnanapragasam VJ. Re-evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of PSA as a referral test to detect clinically significant prostate cancer in contemporary MRI-based image-guided biopsy pathways. Journal of Clinical Urology 2023, 16(4), 264-273.
  • Shah TT, Reddy D, Peters M, Ball D, Kim NH, Gomez EG, Miah S, Evans DE, Guillaumier S, van Rossum PSN, Van Son MJ, Hosking-Jervis F, Dudderidge T, Hindley R, Emara A, McCracken S, Greene D, Nigam R, McCartan N, Valerio M, Minhas S, Afzal N, Lewi H, Ogden C, Persad R, Virdi J, Moore CM, Arya M, Emberton M, Ahmed HU, Winkler M. Focal therapy compared to radical prostatectomy for non-metastatic prostate cancer: a propensity score-matched study. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases 2021, 24, 567–574.
  • Day E, Prevost AT, Sydes MR, Reddy D, Shah TT, Winkler M, Dudderidge T, Staffurth J, McCracken S, Khoo V, Jadav P, Klimowska-Nassar N, Sasikaran T, Ahmed HU, Fiorentino F. Feasibility of Comparative Health Research Outcome of Novel Surgery in prostate cancer (IP4-CHRONOS): statistical analysis plan for the randomised feasibility phase of the CHRONOS study. Trials 2021, 22(1), 547.
  • Shah TT, Peters M, Miah S, Eldred-Evans D, Yap T, Hosking-Jervis F, Dudderidge T, Hindley RG, McCracken S, Greene D, Nigam R, Valerio M, Winkler M, Virdi J, Arya M, Ahmed HU, Minhas S. Assessment of Return to Baseline Urinary and Sexual Function Following Primary Focal Cryotherapy for Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer. European Urology Focus 2021, 7(2), 301-308.
  • Bainbridge A, Walker S, Smith J, Patterson K, Dutt D, Ng YM, Thomas HD, Wilson L, McCullough B, Jones D, Maan A, Banks P, McCracken SRC, Gaughan L, Robson CN, Coffey K. IKBKE activity enhances AR levels in advanced prostate cancer via modulation of the Hippo pathway. Nucleic Acids Research 2020, 48(10), 5366-5382.
  • Reddy D, Shah TT, Dudderidge T, McCracken S, Arya M, Dobbs C, Emberton M, Fiorentino F, Day E, Prevost AT, Staffurth J, Sydes M, Winkler M, Ahmed HU. Comparative Healthcare Research Outcomes of Novel Surgery in prostate cancer (IP4-CHRONOS): A prospective, multi-centre therapeutic phase II parallel Randomised Control Trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2020, 93, 105999.
  • Shah TT, Peters M, Eldred-Evans D, Miah S, Yap T, Faure-Walker NA, Hosking-Jervis F, Thomas B, Dudderidge T, Hindley RG, McCracken S, Greene D, Nigam R, Valerio M, Minhas S, Winkler M, Arya M, Ahmed HU. Early-Medium-Term Outcomes of Primary Focal Cryotherapy to Treat Nonmetastatic Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer from a Prospective Multicentre Registry. European Urology 2019, 76(1), 98-105.
  • Kounatidou E, Nakjang S, McCracken SRC, Dehm SM, Robson CN, Jones D, Gaughan L. A novel CRISPR-engineered prostate cancer cell line defines the AR-V transcriptome and identifies PARP inhibitor sensitivities. Nucleic Acids Research 2019, 47(11), 5634-5647.
  • McClurg UL, Chit NCTH, Azizyan M, Edwards J, Nabbi A, Riabowol KT, Nakjang S, McCracken SR, Robson CN. Molecular mechanism of the TP53-MDM2-AR-AKT signalling network regulation by USP12. Oncogene 2018, 37, 4679-4691.
  • McClurg UL, Nabbi A, Ricordel C, Korolchuk S, McCracken S, Heer R, Wilson L, Butler LM, Irving-Hooper BK, Pedeux R, Robson CN, Riabowol KT, Binda O. Human ex vivo prostate tissue model system identifies ING3 as an oncoprotein. British Journal of Cancer 2018, 118, 713-726.
  • McClurg UL, Harle VJ, Nabbi A, Batalha-Pereira A, Walker S, Coffey K, Gaughan L, McCracken SRC, Robson CN. Ubiquitin-specific protease 12 interacting partners Uaf-1 and WDR20 are potential therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. Oncotarget 2015, 6(35).
  • Roushias S, Veeratterapillay R, McCracken S, Heer R. Penile strangulation by a substantial metal napkin ring: successful removal with medtronic midas rex® legend® stylus® drill system. Journal of Clinical Urology 2013, 6(3), 194-196.
  • Gao ML, Patel R, Ahmad I, Fleming J, Edwards J, McCracken S, Sahadevan K, Seywright M, Norman J, Sansom O, Leung HY. SPRY2 loss enhances ErbB trafficking and PI3K/AKT signalling to drive human and mouse prostate carcinogenesis. EMBO Molecular Medicine 2012, 4(8), 776-790.
  • Gaughan L, Stockley J, Wang N, McCracken S, Truemann A, Armstrong K, Shaheen F, Watt K, McEwan I, Wang C, Pestell RG, Robson CN. Regulation of the androgen receptor by SET9-mediated methylation. Nucleic Acids Research 2011, 39(4), 1266-1279.
  • Brooke GN, Culley RL, Dart DA, Mann DJ, Gaughan L, McCracken SR, Robson CN, Spencer-Dene B, Gamble SC, Powell SM, Wait R, Waxman J, Walker MM, Bevan CL. FUS/TLS Is a Novel Mediator of Androgen-Dependent Cell-Cycle Progression and Prostate Cancer Growth. Cancer Research 2011, 71(3), 914-924.
  • Ramsay AK, McCracken SRC, Soofi M, Fleming J, Yu AX, Ahmad I, Morland R, Machesky L, Nixon C, Edwards DR, Nuttall RK, Seywright M, Marquez R, Keller E, Leung HY. ERK5 signalling in prostate cancer promotes an invasive phenotype. British Journal of Cancer 2011, 104(4), 664-672.
  • McCracken SRC, Ramsay A, Heer R, Mathers ME, Jenkins BL, Edwards J, Robson CN, Marquez R, Cohen P, Leung HY. Aberrant expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 in human prostate cancer. Oncogene 2008, 27(21), 2978-2988.
  • Dudderidge TJ, McCracken SRC, Loddo M, Fanshawe TR, Kelly JD, Neal DE, Leung HY, Williams GH, Stoeber K. Mitogenic growth signalling, DNA replication licensing, and survival are linked in prostate cancer. British Journal of Cancer 2007, 96(9), 1384-1393.
  • Logan IR, Gaughan L, McCracken SRC, Sapountzi V, Leung HY, Robson CN. Human PIRH2 enhances androgen receptor signaling through inhibition of histone deacetylase 1 and is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2006, 26(17), 6502-6510.
  • Mills, I., Gaughan, L., Robson, C. N., Ross, T., McCracken, S. R. C., Kelly, J., Neal, D. E. Huntingtin interacting protein 1 modulates the transcriptional activity of nuclear hormone receptors. Journal of Cell Biology 2005, 170(2), 191-200.
  • McCracken SRC, Jenkins BL, Heer R, Mathers ME, Robson CN, Leung HY. Expression analysis of the MEK5/ERK5 signalling pathway in human prostate cancer. BJU International 2005, 95(s5), 82-83.
  • Gowardhan B, Douglas DA, Mathers ME, Mckie AB, McCracken SRC, Robson CN, Leung HY. Evaluation of the fibroblast growth factor system as a potential target for therapy in human prostate cancer. British Journal of Cancer 2005, 92(2), 320-327.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • McClurg U, Dransfield D, Namdev N, Jacoby D, Chit N, Nakjang S, Edwards J, McCracken S, Robson C. A novel anti-androgen candidate galeterone acts by targeting USP12, a deubiquitinating enzyme that controls prostate cancer growth and survival. In: 28th EORTC – NCI – AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. 2016, Munich, Germany: Elsevier.
  • Leung HY, Mckie AB, Sahadevan K, McCracken SRC, Maitland H, Olijslagers S. Loss of Sprouty2 Drives an Invasive Phenotype in Prostate Cancer and May Co-operate with HER2/3 in a Subgroup with Aggressive Disease. In: BJU International: Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Association of Urological Surgeons. 2009, Glasgow, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

• Review

  • McCracken S, Durkan G, Pickard R, Robson C. Diagnosis and management of prostate cancer in the older man. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology 2010, 20(3), 193-204.