Targeting AR-driven prostate cancer by blocking PTGES3
Official title: Investigating PTGES3 as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11367821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly study explores whether turning off a protein called PTGES3 can lower the cancer-promoting AR protein in advanced prostate cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $736,383 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA304546-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367821 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
American men with advanced prostate cancer who have, or are at risk of, resistance to AR-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on AR signaling or do not respond to PTGES3-directed strategies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Prostate cancers often rely on the androgen receptor (AR) to grow and spread, and tumors frequently become resistant to current AR-blocking drugs. This project uses genetic screening to identify genes that keep AR protein levels high, focusing on PTGES3 as a potential new target. If PTGES3 helps AR stay active, turning it down could slow tumor growth and limit progression. The work builds on lab models that mimic aggressive, treatment-resistant disease to test how reducing PTGES3 affects AR and cancer behavior. The ultimate goal is to open a new therapeutic avenue for patients whose cancers no longer respond to standard AR inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that reduce AR activity and slow disease progression in advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genetic screens have identified AR regulators and showed that targeting AR-related pathways can impact cancer growth, suggesting potential for PTGES3-based approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Haolong — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Li, Haolong
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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.