Androgen receptor gene changes in prostate cancer
AR Gene Rearrangements and AR Signaling in Prostate Cancer
Researchers are studying how changes in the androgen receptor gene let prostate cancer keep growing despite hormone treatments for men with advanced disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294361 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have advanced or treatment-resistant prostate cancer, this work looks at structural changes in the androgen receptor (AR) gene that can make the tumor ignore hormone therapy. The team analyzes tumor samples from patients and uses laboratory models to see how these AR gene rearrangements change AR signaling and bypass normal feedback controls. They compare tumors that respond to endocrine drugs with those that progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer to find patterns linked to resistance. The goal is to identify markers or targets that could guide future tests or therapies when standard hormone treatments stop working.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced or castration-resistant prostate cancer, particularly those whose tumors have progressed on standard hormone therapies, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People with early-stage prostate cancer already cured by surgery or radiation are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to tests that predict when hormone therapy will stop working and to new treatments that target AR-driven resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research on AR variants and altered AR signaling has linked these changes to hormone resistance, but focusing specifically on structural AR gene rearrangements is a more recent and actively developing area.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dehm, Scott M. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Dehm, Scott M.
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 below.