Tumor environment players in advanced prostate cancer spread
Official title: Project 1: Tumor Microenvironment Initiators of the Metastatic Cascade in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11398977 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the tissue around prostate tumors helps cancer spread, in men with high-risk disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $404,973 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA269011-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398977 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with newly diagnosed high-risk, locally advanced, or metastatic prostate cancer who are undergoing specific treatment regimens and have available tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not fitting the high-risk or treatment-relevant criteria or whose tissue samples are not used may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why certain prostate cancers become more dangerous by examining the tumor microenvironment in tissue samples from men with high-risk disease. It uses 3D models and advanced imaging to connect genetic changes in tumor cells with how surrounding stromal and immune cells may drive invasion and entry into the bloodstream. The study groups include patients who had surgery alone or received neoadjuvant therapies, with tissue collected for detailed molecular analysis. The goal is to map when and how these interactions occur to identify potential targets for preventing metastasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new ways to prevent or delay metastasis in high-risk prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment can influence metastasis, but the exact mechanisms in prostate cancer remain under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lang, Joshua — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lang, Joshua
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Overcoming Resistance to AR-Targeted Therapy in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
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-
Integrated genomic and AI pathology biomarkers to guide high-risk prostate cancer treatment
A prostate cancer research project tests how genomic and AI-based pathology tools can help tailor who should receive added ARSI therapy with standard radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
-
Mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This project looks at changes in mitochondrial DNA and cell energy systems in men, especially African American men, with high‑risk prostate cancer to find markers that predict who will develop aggressive disease.
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Understanding mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This study is looking at how changes in mitochondrial DNA might affect prostate cancer in African American men, who are more likely to face serious cases, with the hope of finding ways to predict and improve treatment for those at risk.
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How high-risk prostate tumors and nearby cells kick off cancer spread
This project looks at how high-risk prostate tumors and the immune and support cells around them start to spread by using advanced scans and detailed analysis of removed prostate tissue.
-
Blocking stromal signals to make androgen-blocking treatment work better for high-risk prostate cancer
Researchers are trying to improve outcomes for people with high-risk localized prostate cancer by blocking signals from nearby stromal cells so androgen-blocking drugs work more fully.
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.