Molecular tests to predict long-term response to hormone therapy and radiation for prostate cancer
Molecular Biomarkers of Long-Term Response to Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Radiation in Prostate Cancer
This project looks for molecular signs in tumor samples that could show which men with prostate cancer returning after surgery will benefit most from hormone therapy plus radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248810 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses stored tumor and blood samples from men whose prostate cancer came back after radical prostatectomy and who were treated in landmark randomized trials of salvage radiation with or without androgen deprivation therapy. Scientists will measure molecular features in those samples and link them to long-term PSA and survival outcomes. They will compare people who did and did not get hormone therapy to find markers that predict who benefits and who may need more intensive treatment. Because the work uses banked samples and trial data, it focuses on lab analyses and clinical data rather than testing new treatments on patients now.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related trials would be men whose prostate cancer returned after prostatectomy and who are considering or receiving salvage radiation with or without androgen deprivation therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with widely metastatic disease beyond the salvage setting or those without available tumor/blood samples would be unlikely to benefit directly from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose who truly needs hormone therapy with salvage radiation and who might avoid extra treatment or need intensified therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Large trials have shown benefit from adding hormone therapy to salvage radiation, but reliable molecular predictors of long-term benefit remain limited, so this work builds on trial data and is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maher, Christopher a — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Maher, Christopher a
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.