Stopping therapy-resistant prostate cancer by blocking FOXA2 and AP-1
Targeting FOXA2/AP-1 axis to overcome lineage plasticity and therapy resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer
This research looks at whether blocking a protein switch called FOXA2 and its partner AP‑1 can stop or reverse prostate cancers that no longer respond to hormone therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11404787 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine tumor samples and laboratory models to understand how FOXA2 helps prostate cancer cells change identity and escape hormone treatments. They will map where FOXA2 and AP‑1 bind DNA, study how the enzyme LSD1 stabilizes FOXA2 on chromatin, and test ways to disrupt this pathway in cell lines and animal models. The goal is to find molecular targets that could lead to new treatments for men with castration‑resistant, AR‑indifferent prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced castration‑resistant prostate cancer, particularly those whose tumors have become AR‑indifferent or show neuroendocrine features or lineage plasticity, would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients with early‑stage, hormone‑sensitive prostate cancer or those without prostate cancer are unlikely to see direct benefits from this primarily laboratory research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new drug targets to prevent or reverse resistance to androgen‑targeted therapies in advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies support roles for FOXA family proteins, AP‑1, and LSD1 in prostate cancer plasticity, but directly targeting the FOXA2/AP‑1 interaction is largely experimental and has not been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- University of Massachusetts Boston — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Changmeng — University of Massachusetts Boston
- Study coordinator: Cai, Changmeng
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.