Biological aging and early prostate cancer risk in African American men
Official title: Epigenetic aging as a driver of racial disparities in early onset prostate cancer
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11195637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether faster biological aging in prostate tissue helps explain why African American men get prostate cancer at younger ages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $689,210 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA298785-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are African American men diagnosed with early-onset prostate cancer (around age 55 or younger), plus age-matched European American patients for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Men without prostate cancer or those well outside the early-onset age range are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
The team will measure ribosomal DNA methylation, a marker of biological age, in prostate tumor (and matched) tissue from African American and European American patients. They will compare epigenetic age at diagnosis between race- and age-matched patients to see if early-onset cases show accelerated epigenetic aging. The researchers will also explore genetic and environmental factors that might drive faster rDNA methylation in affected patients. Results aim to identify biological contributors to racial differences in early-onset prostate cancer and suggest paths for earlier detection or targeted prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological markers that help explain higher early-onset prostate cancer risk in African American men and guide earlier detection or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked rDNA methylation to biological aging and cancer risk, but applying this marker to explain racial disparities in early-onset prostate cancer is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woloszynska-Read, Anna — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Woloszynska-Read, Anna
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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.