Boosting CAR T cell therapy for advanced prostate cancer by blocking androgen signals
Project 3: Modulating Androgen Receptor Signaling to Enhance the Efficacy of CAR T Cell Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer
This project looks at whether blocking androgen receptor signals can help a new STEAP1-targeted CAR T‑cell therapy work better for men with advanced, treatment‑resistant prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181530 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have advanced prostate cancer, this project is developing a CAR T cell therapy that targets a protein called STEAP1 found on many lethal prostate tumors. The team has shown the STEAP1 CAR T cells kill prostate cancer cells and appear safe in animal and human‑xenograft models. They plan to combine CAR T cells with approaches that lower or block androgen receptor signaling because male hormones can suppress immune responses. The goal is to move the best approaches toward a first‑in‑human trial for men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors express the STEAP1 antigen and who are eligible for adoptive cell therapy.
Not a fit: Patients without STEAP1 expression, those with earlier-stage prostate cancer, or people who cannot tolerate cellular therapy or androgen‑modifying treatments are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new, more effective immunotherapy option that produces deeper and longer responses in men with advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T therapies have been highly successful in blood cancers but remain experimental in solid tumors, and STEAP1‑targeted CAR T combined with androgen receptor modulation is a novel, mostly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, John Kyung — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Lee, John Kyung
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.