SMARCA1's role in prostate cancer growth and treatment resistance

Project 2: The Functional Role of SMARCA1 Signaling in Prostate Cancer Progression and Drug Resistance

NIH-funded research Tennessee State University · NIH-11190825

This project looks at whether blocking the SMARCA1 protein can slow prostate cancer growth and help men whose tumors stop responding to hormone therapy.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTennessee State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11190825 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will measure SMARCA1 levels in prostate tumors and normal prostate tissue, including samples from African American and Caucasian men. They will reduce or inactivate SMARCA1 in prostate cancer cells and animal models to see how that changes tumor growth and response to anti-androgen drugs. The team will study how SMARCA1 interacts with AKT and the androgen receptor pathways that drive castration-resistant prostate cancer. Results will be used to guide development of drugs that target SMARCA1 signaling to overcome treatment resistance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Men with advanced or castration-resistant prostate cancer, and those willing to donate tumor or normal prostate tissue or clinical data—especially African American men—are most relevant to this project.

Not a fit: Men with early-stage prostate cancer already cured by surgery or men without prostate cancer are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research in the near term.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that block SMARCA1 to prevent or overcome treatment-resistant prostate cancer, potentially improving outcomes for affected men including African American patients.

How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory data show SMARCA1 is elevated in advanced tumors and that reducing it can slow cancer cell growth, but clinical targeting of SMARCA1 is still a novel and unproven approach.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.