NIH-funded research R01 grant

Metabolic DNA Damage and Obesity-Linked Prostate Cancer Progression

Official title: Metabolic DNA Damage as a Driver of Obesity-Linked Prostate Cancer Progression

Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11447797 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study to understand how obesity-related metabolism and a cancer cell’s DNA damage drive the progression of aggressive prostate cancer in men.

More Prostate Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeckman Research Institute/city of Hope
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Duarte, United States)
Project startJuly 21, 2026
Project endJune 30, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$738,144
NIH project number1R01CA307132-01A1
Project IDNIH-11447797 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Men with obesity or metabolic dysfunction who have or are at risk for aggressive prostate cancer.

Less likely to help

Patients without aggressive prostate cancer or without obesity/metabolic issues may have less direct benefit.

What this research studies

This project looks at why obesity and high blood sugar may worsen prostate cancer by focusing on a harmful metabolic byproduct called methylglyoxal and its DNA damage. Researchers will examine how MG-related DNA lesions influence tumor growth and response to therapies, using data from tumors with aggressive prostate cancer and laboratory models. They plan to study a key DNA repair enzyme, APE1, and how its suppression by MG could promote mutagenesis and progression. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new strategies for preventing progression and guiding treatment in patients with obesity-related prostate cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal targets to slow or stop progression of aggressive prostate cancer in patients with obesity or metabolic dysfunction.

How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data link MG-DNA damage and reduced DNA repair with more aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting a plausible path to new therapies.

Where this research is happening

  • Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
    Duarte, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Shuck, Sarah C. — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
  • Study coordinator: Shuck, Sarah C.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.