Epigenetic test and new treatments for enlarged prostate (BPH)
New Treatment Strategies and Epigenetic Biomarker for Management of BPH
This work looks at whether an epigenetic marker and anti-inflammatory approaches can help men with enlarged prostate (BPH) who do not respond to finasteride.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194463 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to share medical information and provide prostate tissue or blood samples so researchers can measure an epigenetic change (methylation) of the SRD5A2 gene and levels of inflammatory signals like TNF-α. The team will compare men who respond to finasteride with those who do not to see if methylation or inflammation explains treatment resistance. Lab tests will link these molecular findings to symptoms, age, and body weight. Results may point to targeted treatments that reverse methylation or reduce inflammation to improve urinary symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult men with BPH and lower urinary tract symptoms, especially those currently taking or not improving on 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride.
Not a fit: Men without prostate enlargement, those whose urinary symptoms are due to other causes, or men who lack the specific SRD5A2 methylation changes may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors predict who will not benefit from finasteride and offer more personalized treatments for BPH.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory work supports a link between SRD5A2 methylation, inflammation, and finasteride resistance, but translating those findings into a clinical biomarker and treatment strategy is novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olumi, Aria F — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Olumi, Aria F
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.