Prostate cancer differences in men of African ancestry
Racial Difference in Prostate Cancer
Seeing if two proteins that are often active in Black men’s prostate tumors work together to drive aggressive cancer and whether blocking one with a new drug can slow tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251563 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on two master regulatory proteins, Kaiso and ONECUT2, and compares their activity in prostate tumors from men of West African ancestry and other groups. Researchers will use genome-wide methods (including ATAC-seq), lab-grown cell models, and quantitative analysis of human tumor tissue to map how these proteins change tumor behavior. They will test a new family of small-molecule ONECUT2 inhibitors in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), PDX-derived organoids, and mouse models to see if blocking ONECUT2 reduces lineage plasticity, drug resistance, and metastasis. Human tumor samples will be used to connect the lab findings to real patient biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with prostate cancer—particularly those of West African ancestry—who can donate tumor tissue or may qualify for future clinical trials targeting ONECUT2.
Not a fit: People without prostate cancer, or patients whose tumors do not depend on the Kaiso/ONECUT2 pathway, are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to targeted therapies that reduce aggressive prostate cancer and treatment resistance in men of African ancestry.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier preclinical work showed OC2 inhibitors can suppress castration-resistant prostate cancer metastases in mice, while targeting the Kaiso–ONECUT2 interaction in human-derived tumors is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freeman, Michael R. — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Freeman, Michael R.
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.