Investigating how early environmental exposures affect prostate cancer risk
Official title: Discriminatory Mechanisms in Early-Onset and Lethal Prostate Cancer
Funded at Public Health Institute · NIH-10922680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things in our environment when we're young might affect the chances of developing aggressive prostate cancer later on, and it’s for young men and their families who want to understand more about this risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $486,167 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264519-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10922680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young men, particularly those with a family history of prostate cancer or who belong to populations at higher risk.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 60 or those without a history of prostate cancer in their family may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how environmental factors during early development and young adulthood may influence the risk of developing early-onset and lethal prostate cancer. By analyzing blood samples from young men and their parents, the study aims to identify metabolic changes linked to these exposures. The researchers will use advanced analytical techniques to connect these metabolic signatures with the likelihood of developing aggressive prostate cancer before age 60. This approach could lead to new prevention strategies that enhance protective factors and mitigate risks associated with prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective prevention strategies for early-onset and lethal prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between environmental exposures and cancer risk, making this approach both innovative and grounded in existing findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cohn, Barbara a — Public Health Institute
- Study coordinator: Cohn, Barbara a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
Causal Protein Markers to Understand and Predict Prostate Cancer Risk in Africans and Europeans
A cancer research project looking at proteins linked to prostate cancer to better understand why it happens and how risk differs between African and European populations.
-
Ethical multimodal AI platform to improve prostate cancer detection with ultrasound
A patient-friendly AI system uses ultrasound and MRI information to help doctors better find prostate cancer, aiming to improve accuracy and access.
-
Characterizing epigenetic targets in prostate cancer to help AR-driven cancer
A research project at MD Anderson aims to understand how epigenetic factors shape androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer to find new ways to treat resistant forms of the disease.
-
AR and RNA-binding in prostate cancer resistance
A cancer research grant exploring how the androgen receptor’s interaction with RNA may drive treatment resistance in prostate cancer, with potential to guide new therapies.
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.