A new targeted treatment for advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormones
Official title: Targeted Suppression of Microtubule Dynamics for Treatment of Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11321671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create a PSMA-targeted therapy that delivers a microtubule‑blocking drug to tumors in people with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $567,145 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA298343-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer whose tumors express PSMA, especially those who have progressed after prior therapies including PSMA radioligand therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People whose tumors do not express PSMA, who have other cancer types, or who are medically unfit for targeted therapies are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will attach a potent microtubule‑suppressing drug to molecules that bind PSMA, a protein commonly found on prostate cancer cells, to deliver the drug directly to tumors. They will test how well these compounds bind tumor tissue, how they spread through the body, and how effectively they kill cancer cells in laboratory and animal models. The team intends this non‑radioactive approach to avoid the long‑term salivary gland damage sometimes seen with PSMA‑targeted radioligand therapies. Preclinical safety and biodistribution studies will guide whether the approach can move toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new targeted option for people with mCRPC that better controls tumors while reducing the salivary gland damage seen with some radioligand treatments.
How similar studies have gone: PSMA‑targeted radioligand therapies (e.g., 177Lu‑PSMA‑617 and 225Ac‑PSMA‑617) have shown tumor responses but often lead to progression or salivary gland toxicity, and PSMA‑directed delivery of non‑radioactive microtubule inhibitors is a newer strategy with promising preclinical rationale but limited clinical data so far.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azhdarinia, Ali — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Azhdarinia, Ali
Related research
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Enhancer RNA CYP11A1-eRNA in castration-resistant prostate cancer
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Targeted Immunostimulatory Dual Drug Conjugates for Heterogeneous Metastatic Prostate Cancer
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Therapeutic Targeting of Lineage Plasticity in Advanced Prostate Cancer
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.