Targeting HSP70/STUB1 to help treat therapy‑resistant prostate cancer
Modulating HSP70/STUB1 machinery in therapy-resistant prostate cancer
This project uses an FDA‑approved drug to change the HSP70/STUB1 protein system so AR‑V7 levels fall and men whose prostate cancer no longer responds to anti‑androgen medicines might regain sensitivity.
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 ID | NIH-11162512 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on prostate cancer that has stopped responding to common anti‑androgen drugs because of a protein called AR‑V7. The team plans to alter the HSP70/STUB1 protein machinery using niclosamide (an FDA‑approved antiparasitic) and measure whether AR‑V7 levels drop. They will test these effects in prostate cancer cells and in animal models, tracking tumor growth and response to anti‑androgen drugs while studying the underlying protein‑stability mechanisms. Promising lab results could lead to steps toward clinical trials to see if the approach helps patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with castration‑resistant prostate cancer whose disease progressed on common anti‑androgen drugs, especially those with tumors that express AR‑V7, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose prostate cancer remains sensitive to first‑line therapies or whose resistance is not driven by AR‑V7 are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could restore or extend responsiveness to anti‑androgen therapies for men with castration‑resistant prostate cancer driven by AR‑V7.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical data, including work from this group, show niclosamide can lower AR‑V7 and resensitize resistant tumors, but clinical proof in patients is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Chengfei — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Liu, Chengfei
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.