Androgen deprivation as an immune boost with targeted immunotherapy for prostate cancer
Official title: Project 2: Androgen deprivation as an immune modulating therapy in combination with targeted immunotherapy of prostate cancer
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11398983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether depriving androgens can boost the body’s immune attack against prostate cancer when combined with a vaccine-style immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $367,792 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA269011-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult men with metastatic prostate cancer who are candidates for immunotherapy and/or androgen-deprivation strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not respond to immune-based strategies or who cannot tolerate androgen-deprivation therapy may derive limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
Prostate cancer remains a major health challenge, and this project explores a novel combination therapy to help patients. The researchers are building on years of work showing that an AR-based DNA vaccine can trigger tumor-killing T cells and that androgen deprivation may increase tumor visibility to the immune system. In preclinical models, androgen deprivation increased AR protein levels and enhanced CD8+ T cell responses when paired with AR-targeted vaccination. A prior multi-center phase I trial suggested the approach is safe and immunologically active, with immune responses linked to longer time before resistance to therapy. The current effort aims to translate these findings into an optimized treatment strategy for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve immune system recognition of prostate cancer and extend the time patients remain responsive to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work and a completed phase I trial suggest the strategy is feasible and can generate meaningful immune responses with potential clinical benefit.
Where this research is happening
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcneel, Douglas G. — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Mcneel, Douglas G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Combination immunotherapy with radioligand therapy for metastatic prostate cancer
A study aims to help men with advanced prostate cancer by combining immune therapy with targeted radiation to boost the body’s own defense against cancer.
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Isoform-selective Hsp90 inhibitors for prostate cancer therapy and immunotherapy
A new drug approach targets a specific protein (Hsp90β) in prostate cancer to fight tumors and boost immune therapy.
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Creating targeted drugs to treat advanced prostate cancer
This study is looking at new drugs that target a specific protein involved in cancer growth, hoping to make treatments for advanced prostate cancer safer and more effective, especially when combined with current immunotherapy options.
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Hormone-lowering treatment plus targeted immunotherapy for prostate cancer
This work combines hormone-lowering therapy with a vaccine that trains the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells for men with advanced prostate cancer.
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Combining targeted radioligand therapy with immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer
Seeing if adding targeted radioligand therapy to immunotherapy helps men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by boosting the immune attack on tumors.
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Helping immunotherapy work for metastatic prostate cancer
A new antibody aims to help men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer respond to immunotherapy by blocking an immune-suppressing molecule released by tumors.
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.