Targeting hormone production in prostate cancer that resists treatment
Official title: Targeting intracrine steroidogenesis in anti-androgen resistant prostate cancer
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10885175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at advanced prostate cancer that doesn't get better with usual treatments, and it's trying to find out how certain enzymes affect the disease and its resistance to therapy, with the hope of discovering new blood markers and testing a new drug that could make current treatments work better for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $178,760 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277171-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10885175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men with advanced prostate cancer who have shown resistance to anti-androgen therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those who have not undergone anti-androgen treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates advanced prostate cancer that does not respond to standard anti-androgen therapies. It focuses on understanding how certain enzymes, particularly AKR1C3, contribute to the disease's progression and treatment resistance. By developing patient-derived models, the research aims to identify biomarkers in blood that indicate treatment resistance and test a new drug that could enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies. Patients may benefit from new treatment strategies that target these mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for advanced prostate cancer, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in prostate cancer, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Chengfei — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Liu, Chengfei
Related research
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Characterizing epigenetic targets in prostate cancer to help AR-driven cancer
A research project at MD Anderson aims to understand how epigenetic factors shape androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer to find new ways to treat resistant forms of the disease.
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AR and RNA-binding in prostate cancer resistance
A cancer research grant exploring how the androgen receptor’s interaction with RNA may drive treatment resistance in prostate cancer, with potential to guide new therapies.
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.