Targeting FAK in treatment-resistant prostate cancer
The role of focal adhesion kinase in therapy resistant prostate tumors
This project looks at whether blocking a protein called FAK can help people whose prostate cancer has become resistant to hormone therapy and developed neuroendocrine features (t-NEPC).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11106039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found that an abnormal RNA splicing program in some prostate tumors creates neural versions of the protein FAK that help cancers survive without androgen receptor signaling. They will study these FAK splice variants using patient tumor samples, RNA sequencing, cell-based experiments, and animal models to learn how the variants drive neuroendocrine change. The team will test FAK kinase inhibitors in lab and preclinical models that carry the neural FAKs to see if the drugs slow or kill tumor growth. The goal is to translate these findings into a new targeted treatment option for people with t-NEPC.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with prostate cancer that has become treatment-resistant and shows neuroendocrine features (t-NEPC), especially if their tumors express the neural FAK splice variants, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or tumors that do not express the neural FAK splice forms are unlikely to benefit from FAK-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a targeted therapy option for patients with treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer if FAK inhibition proves effective against tumors with neural FAK variants.
How similar studies have performed: FAK inhibitors have shown activity in laboratory and animal studies and limited clinical testing in other cancers, but targeting FAK specifically for t-NEPC is a newer, mostly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Jiaoti — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Huang, Jiaoti
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.