How androgen activity affects melanoma
Androgen receptor function in melanoma
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11171342
This work will look at whether blocking the androgen receptor can slow melanoma and improve treatment responses for people with melanoma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11171342 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the androgen receptor (a protein that responds to male hormones) and how it influences melanoma cells. Researchers will use patient-derived melanoma cells and laboratory models to turn off AR with drugs or genetic tools and observe effects on DNA repair, inflammation, and tumor growth. They will study AR interactions with nuclear lamins and RNA helicases and analyze gene signatures linked to better patient survival. The team aims to learn whether targeting AR can make tumors less able to grow and more visible to the immune system, guiding future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cutaneous melanoma, particularly those whose tumors show androgen receptor activity or who can provide tumor samples, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack androgen receptor activity or who need immediate clinical benefits should not expect direct benefit from this primarily laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that target the androgen receptor to slow melanoma growth and improve responses to existing therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Blocking the androgen receptor is an established treatment approach in prostate cancer and early preclinical melanoma work shows promising anti-tumor effects, but clinical benefit in melanoma has not yet been proven.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DOTTO, GIAN-PAOLO — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: DOTTO, GIAN-PAOLO
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.