Blocking a newly found pathway in treatment‑resistant prostate cancer
A novel targetable mechanism for castration-resistant prostate cancer
Researchers are developing drugs that block a newly discovered cellular pathway to help men whose prostate cancer no longer responds to hormone and anti‑androgen treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Beach, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131038 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at why some prostate cancers stop responding to hormone‑blocking drugs and anti‑androgen medicines. Scientists will study tumor samples and lab models to understand how the Slit/Robo–srGAP1 pathway and Wnt/β‑catenin signaling help cancer resist treatment. They will examine links with androgen receptor changes, including AR‑V7, and test whether blocking these molecules can stop cancer cell growth. The goal is to identify targets that could be turned into new therapies for castration‑resistant prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are men with castration‑resistant prostate cancer, particularly veterans whose disease progressed after abiraterone or enzalutamide or who have detectable AR‑V7.
Not a fit: Men with early‑stage prostate cancer well controlled by hormone therapy, or patients with other cancer types, are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted treatments that work when standard hormone and anti‑androgen therapies fail.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have linked Wnt/β‑catenin and Slit/Robo signaling to treatment resistance and shown promise in preclinical models, but targeting these pathways in patients remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Long Beach, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Long Beach, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zi, Xiaolin — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Zi, Xiaolin
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.