How prostate inflammation may cause early changes that lead to cancer
Elucidating and testing causal drivers of inflammation triggered prostatic early lesions
This project looks into whether inflammation in the prostate causes early tissue changes that can lead to prostate cancer in men with precancerous prostate lesions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168921 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are examining human prostate tissue with inflammatory lesions (called PIA) and comparing them to precancerous (PIN) and cancerous samples to see what changes occur. They are focusing on an immune signaling protein called STING and on whether protective genes become epigenetically turned off as lesions progress. The team will use molecular analyses of patient samples plus laboratory models to test whether inflammation and gene silencing drive early cancer development. Findings will guide whether targeting these inflammatory or epigenetic pathways might stop progression to prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be men undergoing prostate biopsy or surgery who have inflammatory prostate lesions (PIA) or other early precancerous prostate changes and are willing to provide tissue or clinical data.
Not a fit: Men without prostate disease or those with advanced metastatic prostate cancer are unlikely to directly benefit from this early-lesion focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent prostate cancer by stopping inflammation-driven changes before cancer develops.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked inflammation and epigenetic gene silencing to prostate cancer, but causal proof is limited and this project builds on those earlier findings.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Marzo, Angelo Michael — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: De Marzo, Angelo Michael
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.