ATR dependency as a novel target in lethal RB-deficient prostate cancer
Official title: ATR Dependency as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Lethal RB Deficient ProstateCancer
Funded at Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med · NIH-11374437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach targets ATR in advanced prostate cancer driven by RB1 and TP53 loss to slow or stop tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $217,246 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA252468-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer showing loss of RB1 and TP53 or related lineage-plasticity features.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on RB1/TP53 pathways or do not respond to ATR inhibition may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on metastatic prostate cancer that has stopped responding to standard hormone therapy. It studies how cancer cells with RB1 and TP53 loss depend on ATR signaling and whether blocking ATR can halt disease progression. Using laboratory models and patient-derived data, researchers aim to identify how RB1 loss and related epigenetic changes drive resistance and how ATR inhibition could restore sensitivity to therapy. If successful, the work could guide future treatments for patients whose cancer no longer relies on androgen signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ATR-targeted therapies for patients with RB1/TP53-deficient metastatic prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that targeting related epigenetic and lineage-plasticity pathways can restore therapy sensitivity, supporting a promising but still evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
Bethesda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellis, Leigh — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Ellis, Leigh
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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.