Targeting prostate cancers that change cell identity after hormone therapy
Project 2: Understanding and Targeting the Lineage plasticity in the Genomic Umbrella Neoadjuvant Study (GUNS)
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · NIH-11181527
This project tests combinations of hormone-blocking and targeted drugs given before surgery for men whose advanced prostate cancer is becoming treatment-resistant and shifting to a more aggressive cell type.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181527 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would have genomic testing of your tumor and receive intensive hormone-blocking therapy plus additional targeted drugs before surgery as part of a flexible, multi-arm treatment plan. Doctors will take tissue and blood samples before, during, and after treatment to track how tumor cells change and which drugs work best. The trial adapts over time, adding or dropping drug combinations based on molecular results and patient responses. The goal is to learn which approaches stop or reverse the tumor’s shift to a neuroendocrine or stem-like state.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced or high-risk prostate cancer who can undergo neoadjuvant treatment and surgery, especially those whose tumors show genomic changes (for example, loss of TP53, RB1, or PTEN) or early signs of lineage plasticity, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Men with low-risk localized prostate cancer not eligible for neoadjuvant therapy or whose tumors remain strongly androgen-receptor driven without genomic signs of lineage change are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new pre-surgery treatment combinations that prevent or treat aggressive, therapy-resistant prostate cancers and improve outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials show hormone-blocking drugs can delay prostate cancer progression but can lead to aggressive cell-type shifts, and targeting those shifts is a promising but still emerging and not yet proven clinical strategy.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GLEAVE, MARTIN EDWIN — FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
- Study coordinator: GLEAVE, MARTIN EDWIN
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.