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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $738,144 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA307132-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-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.
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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.