Boosting PSMA on prostate cancer cells to help PSMA-targeted treatments work better
Augmenting PSMA expression to enhance PSMA directed therapeutic efficacy
['FUNDING_R37'] · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · NIH-11263635
Researchers will give drugs that raise PSMA on prostate cancer cells and combine that with PSMA-targeted therapy to try to help men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer respond better.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11263635 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, the team would use laboratory and patient-tissue research to find drugs that increase PSMA levels on prostate cancer cells. They plan to test those drugs in preclinical models and use human tumor samples (including data from rapid autopsy programs) to understand why some cancers have low PSMA. The goal is to give a PSMA-boosting drug before or with an approved PSMA-directed treatment like 177Lu-PSMA-617 so the therapy can reach and kill more tumor cells. The program combines lab experiments with work that could lead to trials offering this combination to patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are being considered for PSMA-directed therapy, especially if their tumors show low or uneven PSMA levels.
Not a fit: Men whose tumors completely lack PSMA expression, who are not eligible for PSMA-directed therapy, or who cannot tolerate additional drugs may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could make PSMA-targeted treatments work for more men and improve tumor control or extend time without progression.
How similar studies have performed: PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy (177Lu-PSMA-617) is FDA-approved and helps many patients, but about half do not respond and early lab and clinical data suggest raising PSMA could improve responses though the approach is still under study.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HAFFNER, MICHAEL C — FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
- Study coordinator: HAFFNER, MICHAEL C
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.
Conditions: Cancer Cause, Cancer Etiology, Cancer Patient