How sugar-related waste products affect the tissue around prostate tumors in men of African ancestry
Cause and Effect Relationships Between Glycation and the Ancestry Specific Tumor Stroma
This work looks at whether sugar-derived waste products called AGEs change the tissue around prostate tumors and drive more aggressive prostate cancer in men of African ancestry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241149 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to provide blood and, if available, tumor tissue so researchers can measure AGE levels and stromal changes. The team will also use lab models and animals fed diets high in AGEs to see how AGE exposure drives stromal activation and tumor growth. They will study the RAGE receptor in stromal cells to test whether blocking AGE-RAGE signaling reduces aggressive tumor behavior. The project focuses on men of African ancestry because prior data show higher AGE levels and more aggressive tumors in this group.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with prostate cancer — particularly those of African ancestry or with aggressive tumors — who can provide blood or tumor samples or are willing to join related dietary or biospecimen studies.
Not a fit: People without prostate cancer, women, or men unwilling to provide samples or travel to the study site are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to diet changes or new treatments that lower AGE effects and slow aggressive prostate cancer, especially in men of African ancestry.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier lab and animal work from this group showed higher AGE levels in patients and that dietary AGEs can speed prostate tumor growth, but clinical evidence in people remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turner, David Paul — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Turner, David Paul
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.