Mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
Official title: Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in high-risk prostate cancer
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11302709 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $192,910 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA276713-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11302709 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be men diagnosed with high‑risk or aggressive prostate cancer, particularly African American men and those willing to provide tumor samples or clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
Men with low‑risk prostate cancer, unrelated health issues, or who cannot provide samples or clinical follow-up are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze mitochondrial DNA and related energy-making genes from prostate tumor samples, comparing patients with high‑risk aggressive cancer to others. They will focus on patterns that are more common in African American men to better understand drivers of observed disparities. Laboratory tests will model how specific mitochondrial changes affect cancer cell behavior and response to anti-cancer drugs. The team aims to use these findings to develop biomarkers that could help doctors identify men who need earlier or more aggressive treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to biomarkers that identify men at highest risk of aggressive prostate cancer, enabling earlier or more targeted treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked mitochondrial DNA changes to prostate cancer risk, but using them to predict aggressive outcomes and explain racial disparities is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papachristodoulou, Alexandros — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Papachristodoulou, Alexandros
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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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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.
-
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.
-
Blocking stromal signals to make androgen-blocking treatment work better for high-risk prostate cancer
Researchers are trying to improve outcomes for people with high-risk localized prostate cancer by blocking signals from nearby stromal cells so androgen-blocking drugs work more fully.
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.