Targeting key regulators in advanced prostate cancer that resist standard treatments

Therapeutic targeting of master regulators in non-canonical AR driven advanced lethal prostate cancers

NIH-funded research State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11159586

This research looks for new ways to treat advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to common hormone therapies.

Quick facts

Grant typeR37 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Amherst, United States)
Project IDNIH-11159586 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many men with advanced prostate cancer eventually find that their hormone-blocking medicines, like enzalutamide, stop working. This happens because the cancer cells learn to use a different pathway, called non-canonical AR activity, to keep growing. Our team has identified specific "master switch" proteins that seem to control this new pathway, making the cancer resistant. We are working to understand how these master switches work and develop new treatments that can block them, potentially making existing therapies effective again.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is relevant for patients with advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who have developed resistance to AR-targeted therapies.

Not a fit: Patients whose prostate cancer has not yet become resistant to standard AR-targeted therapies may not directly benefit from this specific approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for advanced prostate cancer that has become resistant to current hormone therapies, offering more options for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data in preclinical models suggests that suppressing these master factors can reverse acquired resistance, indicating a promising, though early, approach.

Where this research is happening

Amherst, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancer Burden
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.