Investigating how tumor-macrophage hybrid cells contribute to prostate cancer spread
Official title: The role of tumor-macrophage hybrid cells in prostate cancer metastasis
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11077798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how certain hybrid cells made from tumors and immune cells help prostate cancer become tougher and spread, with the hope of finding new ways to treat patients who have advanced cancer that doesn't respond to regular treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $637,168 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA283749-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, particularly those whose tumors have become resistant to androgen signaling inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those whose cancer is not resistant to current treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of tumor-macrophage hybrid cells in the progression of prostate cancer, particularly in cases where the cancer becomes resistant to standard treatments. The study aims to understand how these hybrid cells evade the immune system and adapt to survive in the bloodstream, which may lead to metastasis. By examining the unique characteristics of these cells, the research seeks to uncover new mechanisms that contribute to the aggressive nature of advanced prostate cancer. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective treatments targeting these hybrid cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that improve outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of tumor-macrophage hybrid cells in cancer is a relatively novel area of investigation, preliminary studies have shown promising results in understanding their impact on tumor progression.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Tim H.-M. — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Huang, Tim H.-M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PMN-MDSCs in bone metastasis of prostate cancer
A study in people with advanced prostate cancer bone metastases is exploring how immune-suppressing cells in the bone environment may limit current therapies and how targeting them could help.
-
Personalized Metastasis-Directed Therapy for Prostate Cancer with Imaging and Biopsy Boost
A large North American trial will test whether targeted radiation to metastases helps men with a specific type of prostate cancer and uses biomarker tests and imaging to tailor treatment.
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Understanding how prostate cancer spreads to bone and stays dormant
Researchers are studying how prostate cancer moves to bone, why it becomes deadly, and how some cancer cells lie dormant before potentially causing trouble.
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Understanding how tumor neighbors help prostate cancer spread and resist therapy
Researchers are studying how the tumor environment around prostate cancer cells promotes spread and resistance to common therapies, with a focus on a protein called ASPN.
-
Lipoylation and bone metastasis in prostate cancer: paving the way for new treatments
A study in men with advanced prostate cancer will explore how a chemical process called lipoylation influences cancer spreading to bone and whether this could lead to new therapies.
-
RIPK2/MKK7/c-Myc Signals as a Target to Stop Prostate Cancer from Spreading
This grant tests a new way to stop prostate cancer from spreading by blocking a signaling pathway involving RIPK2, MKK7, and c-Myc.
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.