New role for androgen signaling in prostate cancer spread and growth
Official title: A new and non-autonomous role of androgen signaling in prostate tumorigenesis
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11473153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how androgen signals from the tumor environment influence prostate cancer development and progression, with potential to improve treatments for men affected by this disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $534,169 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA289319-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with prostate cancer who may have AR-related tumor biology and stromal involvement could be eligible for future studies or trials stemming from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer is not driven by stromal AR signaling or who are not eligible for subsequent translational studies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Prostate cancer often depends on androgens, but tumors can adapt and grow even when hormones are limited. This project looks at how AR signaling in the surrounding stroma (not just the tumor cells) may drive cancer in a non-autonomous way, using patient-derived data and relevant models. By uncovering how stromal cells communicate with epithelial cancer cells, the research aims to identify new therapeutic angles beyond traditional hormone deprivation. The study combines molecular analyses with stromal-epithelial interaction experiments to map the paracrine signals that sustain tumor growth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies that disrupt stromal signals, potentially slowing or stopping prostate cancer progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that stromal AR signaling can influence prostate cancer, supporting further investigation of this non-autonomous pathway.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Zijie — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Sun, Zijie
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.