Blocking PTPN1 to fight hormone‑resistant prostate cancer
Overcoming mechanisms of PTPN1 driving therapy- and castration- resistant prostate cancer with novel theranostics
This project looks for ways to block a protein called PTPN1 that helps some prostate cancers stop responding to hormone treatments, with the goal of finding new treatment or detection options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238970 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will study how anti‑androgen treatments change the PTPN1 gene and how that change can push prostate tumors to a more aggressive, treatment‑resistant form. The team will use lab-grown tumor cells and genetically modified animal models to track how PTPN1 drives this switch and whether reducing PTPN1 can reverse it. They will also explore 'theranostic' approaches that could combine a therapy and a diagnostic marker tied to PTPN1. The work is preclinical but is aimed at identifying targets and tools that could eventually lead to new drugs or tests for men whose cancer no longer responds to standard hormone therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to anti‑androgen therapy, especially those with neuroendocrine features, would be the most relevant patient group for this work.
Not a fit: Men with early, hormone‑sensitive prostate cancer or unrelated health conditions are unlikely to see direct benefits from this preclinical research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new treatments or tests that stop or detect castration‑resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancers earlier and more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies suggest PTPN1 plays a role in prostate cancer progression, but targeting PTPN1 as a therapy or diagnostic is largely untested in humans and remains novel.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hsieh, Jer-Tsong — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hsieh, Jer-Tsong
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.