New drugs to overcome chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer

Targeting chemoresistant prostate cancer with novel EED inhibitors

NIH-funded research Clark Atlanta University · NIH-11326768

Developing EED-blocking drugs to try to reverse chemotherapy resistance in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionClark Atlanta University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project IDNIH-11326768 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project designs and makes hundreds of new molecules that block the EED protein, which lab studies suggest helps resistant prostate cancer survive chemotherapy. Researchers will test promising compounds in chemoresistant prostate cancer cells and in animal models to see which ones kill the resistant cancer. Lead compounds will undergo safety and drug-property testing (pharmacokinetics, ADME, and toxicity) under GLP and non-GLP conditions. The goal is to pick one or two lead candidates to move toward clinical development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: The most relevant patients would be men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have developed resistance to docetaxel chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients without prostate cancer, those with early localized prostate cancer not treated with chemotherapy, or people whose tumors do not rely on the EED-EZH2 pathway are unlikely to benefit from this work in the near term.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new drugs that restore sensitivity to chemotherapy or directly kill chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells.

How similar studies have performed: EED/EZH2-targeting is an emerging strategy with encouraging preclinical results but has not yet been proven effective in patients.

Where this research is happening

Atlanta, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Cancer Patient
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.