New Ways to Treat Prostate Cancer That Resists Current Drugs
Overcoming Drug Resistance of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
This research looks for new ways to treat prostate cancer when it stops responding to current hormone therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11122294 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many men with advanced prostate cancer eventually find that their hormone-blocking treatments, called androgen signaling inhibitors, no longer work. This project explores a protein called EZH2, which is important for prostate cancer growth, even in these resistant cases. We are working to understand how another protein, Plk1, controls EZH2's activity. The goal is to find new ways to target this pathway, potentially making EZH2 inhibitors more effective for patients whose cancer has become resistant to standard therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer whose disease has progressed despite androgen signaling inhibitor treatment would be the focus of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those whose cancer still responds well to current hormone therapies would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatment options for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer that no longer responds to current drugs.
How similar studies have performed: EZH2 has been identified as a promising target in prostate cancer, but its oncogenic function in CRPC is complex and requires further understanding to enhance the efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Xiaoqi — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Liu, Xiaoqi
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.