Improving prostate cancer treatment with targeted radiation therapy

MELT: Modulation of PSMA Expression for Lutetium Therapy

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10661630

This study is looking at ways to make radiation therapy for prostate cancer work better by boosting a protein called PSMA on cancer cells, so if you're a patient with prostate cancer, this research could lead to improved treatment options for you.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10661630 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of a targeted radiation therapy for prostate cancer by increasing the expression of a specific protein called PSMA on cancer cells. The approach involves understanding how PSMA expression is regulated and testing treatments that can boost this expression or increase the sensitivity of tumors to radiation. By doing so, the researchers aim to improve patient responses to this therapy, which has already shown promise in previous studies. Ultimately, this work will help design a clinical trial to evaluate the combined effects of PSMA-targeted therapy and additional treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer who have not responded adequately to existing therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those who have not yet developed castrate resistance may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with PSMA-targeted therapies, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.