Stopping a clock-related protein that helps advanced prostate cancer grow
Official title: Targeting aberrant circadian regulator in advanced prostate cancer
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11231218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing drugs that block a circadian protein called Rev‑erbα to slow growth of advanced, treatment‑resistant prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $368,288 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA259081-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231218 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose disease progressed after second‑generation hormonal therapies like enzalutamide.
✕Less likely to help
Men with early, localized prostate cancer or patients whose tumors do not depend on Rev‑erbα are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on advanced, metastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to standard hormonal drugs. Researchers will study how the circadian regulator Rev‑erbα helps tumors change and survive, using tumor samples, cell and animal models, and small‑molecule drugs that block Rev‑erbα. The team will map the epigenetic programs Rev‑erbα controls and test whether blocking it can reduce tumor growth and reverse therapy resistance. They will also collect safety and efficacy data in preclinical models to support future patient trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new treatment option for men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer that has stopped responding to current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory studies reported that Rev‑erbα antagonists can shrink prostate cancer models, but this approach has not yet been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Hongwu — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Chen, Hongwu
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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.