New medicines that block both androgen production and the androgen receptor in advanced prostate cancer
Official title: Novel therapeutics dual targeting intracrine androgen synthesis and AR for advanced prostate cancer
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11294346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug series aims to block the enzyme that makes androgens and the androgen receptor to help men with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $521,811 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271327-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be men with advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors show AR-V7 or who progressed on abiraterone or enzalutamide.
✕Less likely to help
Men with early-stage, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or cancers not driven by androgen signaling are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would hear about a new family of drugs called LX designed to hit two drivers of prostate cancer growth: the AKR1C3 enzyme that makes androgens and the androgen receptor including resistant forms like AR-V7. In lab tests the lead compound LX-1 reduced cancer cell growth, lowered AR and AR-V7 signaling, and blocked conversion of a hormone precursor into testosterone. LX-1 also reduced growth of human tumor grafts in mice and lowered testosterone inside those tumors. These are preclinical results that could lead to early human trials if safety and benefit are confirmed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer who no longer respond to current AR-targeting drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Drugs that block androgen production or the androgen receptor have had partial success, but dual AKR1C3/AR inhibitors like LX-1 are a novel concept supported so far by preclinical data only.
Where this research is happening
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University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Allen C. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Gao, Allen 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.