Drug that blocks tumor-made male hormones and the androgen receptor for advanced prostate cancer
Official title: Novel therapeutics dual targeting intracrine androgen synthesis and AR for advanced prostate cancer
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11473215 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new medicine aims to block both the androgen receptor and the tumor’s own production of male hormones to help men with advanced, treatment‑resistant prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $88,514 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA271327-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473215 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with advanced castration‑resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors keep expressing AR variants like AR‑V7 or show high AKR1C3 activity, would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with early-stage prostate cancer, tumors that do not rely on AR signaling or AKR1C3, or those who cannot take experimental therapies are less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers created a new class of compounds called LX that target the androgen receptor (including resistant AR variants like AR‑V7) and the enzyme AKR1C3 that tumors use to make testosterone. In lab-grown prostate cancer cells and tumor samples, the team picked a lead compound, LX‑1, that lowered cancer cell numbers, reduced AR/AR‑V7 activity, and stopped AKR1C3 from converting hormone precursors into testosterone. In mouse models implanted with human prostate tumors, LX‑1 lowered intratumoral testosterone and slowed tumor growth. The team used gene expression tests and biochemical assays to confirm the drug reduces AR signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow or shrink advanced prostate cancers that no longer respond to current hormone therapies and extend time on effective treatment.
How similar studies have gone: This dual-targeting strategy is relatively new: preclinical cell and animal studies are promising, but similar agents have not yet proven benefit in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Allen C. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Gao, Allen C.
Related research
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Genomic clues to guide therapy in advanced prostate cancer
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Understanding how doctors choose treatments to improve advanced prostate cancer care
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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.