Investigating how the tumor environment influences the spread of high-risk prostate cancer
Official title: Project 1: Tumor Microenvironment Initiators of the Metastatic Cascade in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10899411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the area around prostate tumors affects the spread of high-risk prostate cancer, using advanced imaging to help find better treatment options for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $389,239 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA269011-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer who are scheduled for surgery or neoadjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-risk prostate cancer or those not undergoing surgical or neoadjuvant treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment in the spread of high-risk prostate cancer. It involves analyzing pre-treatment samples from patients undergoing different therapies, including surgery and neoadjuvant treatments. By using advanced imaging techniques like PSMA PET/MRI scans, researchers will create 3D models of the prostate to study how specific genomic alterations interact with various cell types in the tumor environment. This approach aims to uncover mechanisms that lead to cancer metastasis, which could inform more effective treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for patients with high-risk prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the tumor microenvironment's role in cancer progression, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lang, Joshua Michael — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lang, Joshua Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Overcoming Resistance to AR-Targeted Therapy in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Researchers are studying why some high-risk prostate cancers stop responding to AR pathway inhibitors and trying new strategies to improve outcomes for men with aggressive, localized disease.
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Tumor environment players in advanced prostate cancer spread
Researchers are studying how the tissue around prostate tumors helps cancer spread, in men with high-risk disease.
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Integrated genomic and AI pathology biomarkers to guide high-risk prostate cancer treatment
A prostate cancer research project tests how genomic and AI-based pathology tools can help tailor who should receive added ARSI therapy with standard radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
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Mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This project looks at changes in mitochondrial DNA and cell energy systems in men, especially African American men, with high‑risk prostate cancer to find markers that predict who will develop aggressive disease.
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Understanding mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This study is looking at how changes in mitochondrial DNA might affect prostate cancer in African American men, who are more likely to face serious cases, with the hope of finding ways to predict and improve treatment for those at risk.
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How high-risk prostate tumors and nearby cells kick off cancer spread
This project looks at how high-risk prostate tumors and the immune and support cells around them start to spread by using advanced scans and detailed analysis of removed prostate tissue.
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.