How the ERG protein drives prostate cancer growth and invasion
Official title: Mechanisms and vulnerabilities of ERG-driven luminal fate in prostate cancer
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11326307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how a common protein called ERG changes prostate cancer cells and whether targeting a linked pathway could lead to new treatments for men with ERG-positive prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA276888-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be men with prostate cancer—especially tumors known to overexpress ERG or those with invasive or hormone-resistant disease who can provide tumor tissue or be treated at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ERG overexpression or with cancers outside the prostate are unlikely to benefit directly from these specific findings.
What this research studies
This project focuses on prostate cancers that have too much of the ERG protein and aims to find weak points in those tumors. The team uses mouse models and organoids grown from tumors, runs genome-wide CRISPR screens, and compares those results with actual patient tumor samples. They are especially interested in a cell type called 'pseudo-basal' cells that appear to drive invasion and in the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway as a possible drug target. Donating tissue or being treated at a participating center could help confirm whether these findings apply to people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or treatment strategies for ERG-positive or treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies and preliminary screens support a role for ERG and the AHR pathway in prostate cancer, but clinical translation of these specific targets is still limited.
Where this research is happening
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Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Weiran — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Feng, Weiran
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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.