Removing the EZH2 protein that helps prostate tumors grow
Development of Protein Degraders Targeting EZH2 Non-enzymatic Functions in Prostate Cancer
This project aims to create drugs that remove a cancer-driving protein (EZH2) to help men with advanced prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180175 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will design and test new protein-degrading molecules that bind EZH2 and trigger its destruction, including the forms that drive tumor growth without using enzyme activity. The team focuses on forms of EZH2 that boost androgen receptor (AR) signaling and resist current enzyme-blocking drugs. Work will start in the laboratory using prostate cancer cells and models to find molecules that effectively degrade EZH2 and stop tumor growth. Successful lab results could lead to future clinical testing in people with treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced or castration-resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors show high EZH2 activity or AR-driven features, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with early-stage prostate cancer already controlled by surgery or radiation, or tumors driven by mechanisms other than EZH2, are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a new type of therapy that removes EZH2 and may slow or stop castration-resistant prostate cancer growth.
How similar studies have performed: Existing EZH2 enzyme inhibitors and early PROTAC degraders have shown limited benefit in prostate cancer, so targeting the non-enzymatic functions of EZH2 is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Jindan — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Yu, Jindan
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.