Improving Treatments for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Targeting Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Prostate Cancer to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy

NIH-funded research University of Kentucky · NIH-11110340

This project looks for new ways to treat advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to standard hormone therapy.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Kentucky NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Lexington, United States)
Project IDNIH-11110340 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Prostate cancer is a serious health concern for men, especially when it becomes resistant to initial hormone treatments. Current options for this advanced stage, called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), offer limited survival benefits. This project aims to find new drug targets and strategies to improve treatment for CRPC patients. Researchers are exploring a specific pathway involving Plk1, p62, and Nrf2, believing that blocking this pathway could make current therapies more effective.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is focused on understanding and treating castration-resistant prostate cancer, which affects men whose prostate cancer has progressed despite hormone therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those whose cancer still responds well to hormone therapy may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatment options for men with advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to hormone therapy.

How similar studies have performed: This project explores a novel molecular mechanism involving the Plk1/p62/Nrf2 pathway, representing a new and untested approach for CRPC therapy.

Where this research is happening

Lexington, 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.