Markers of aggressive prostate cancer in high-risk and Black men
Project 1
This project searches tumor DNA, RNA, and immune signals from men with metastatic prostate cancer—especially African American men—to find markers that predict deadly disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196089 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Howard University will build a group of men with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer, with special focus on high-risk and African American patients. They will collect tumor samples from primary and distant metastatic sites and perform genomic and epigenomic profiling plus analyses of the tumor immune microenvironment. The team will apply in situ biomarker tests that reflect tumor and microenvironment features and compare molecular patterns between primary and metastatic tumors and across genetic ancestry groups. These molecular findings will be linked to clinical outcomes and follow-up data to identify markers associated with lethal prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are men with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer—particularly African American men—who can provide tumor tissue and clinical follow-up information.
Not a fit: Men with low-risk, localized prostate cancer, women, or anyone unable to provide tumor tissue or clinical records are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify men at highest risk of dying from prostate cancer and tailor treatments earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genomic and immune-profiling studies have shown ancestry-linked differences and produced candidate biomarkers, but additional well-annotated cohorts are needed to validate and expand these findings.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lotan, Tamara Levin — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lotan, Tamara Levin
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 below.