Inherited DNA deletions and duplications and aggressive prostate cancer risk in men of African and European ancestry

Contribution of germline copy number variations to the susceptibility of aggressive prostate cancer in men of African and European ancestry

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-11269171

This project looks at whether inherited DNA deletions and duplications raise the chance of aggressive prostate cancer in men of African and European ancestry.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11269171 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be contributing to research that examines inherited DNA deletions and duplications known as copy number variations (CNVs) to see if they increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The team will combine existing genetic data from large studies (genome-wide arrays, whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing) with advanced detection methods to find CNVs across sizes and frequencies. They will compare CNV patterns between men with aggressive prostate cancer and men without cancer, with a special focus on men of African and European ancestry. The goal is to find genetic markers that help explain who is more likely to develop dangerous prostate cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men of African or European ancestry who have been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer or men without prostate cancer who can provide genetic samples and health information.

Not a fit: People unlikely to receive direct benefit include individuals not of African or European ancestry and patients already receiving end-stage treatments where genetic risk findings would not change immediate care.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify genetic markers that improve risk prediction and guide earlier screening or prevention for men at higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Large genome-wide studies have found many single-letter DNA variants linked to prostate cancer, but germline CNVs have been less studied and this combined imputation-plus-sequencing approach for aggressive disease in diverse populations is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, 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.
Conditions Cancer CauseCancer EtiologyCancersCandidate Disease Gene
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.