Understanding a genetic marker for prostate cancer that resists treatment
Official title: Elucidating a novel molecular biomarker for castration-resistant prostate cancer
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11143262 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to find a genetic clue that helps doctors choose the best treatment for men with prostate cancer that has become resistant to standard hormone therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2012 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $422,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA172382-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143262 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with prostate cancer, particularly those whose cancer has progressed to a castration-resistant stage, may benefit from future applications of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without prostate cancer or those whose cancer responds well to initial hormone therapy may not directly benefit from this specific research focus.
What this research studies
Prostate cancer is a serious concern for many men, and standard hormone therapy, called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), is often the first treatment. However, the cancer can sometimes become resistant to this therapy, known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently, treatment choices for CRPC are often based on past therapies rather than a patient's unique genetics. This project focuses on a specific genetic variation, HSD3B1(1245C), which appears to make prostate cancer more resistant to hormone treatments. By understanding how this genetic variant works, we hope to develop a way to personalize treatment for each patient based on their specific genetic makeup and tumor biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more personalized and effective treatment plans for men with prostate cancer, especially those whose cancer has become resistant to standard therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work from this research group has already provided clear clinical evidence regarding the HSD3B1(1245C) variant, indicating a strong foundation for this continued effort.
Where this research is happening
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University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharifi, Nima — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Sharifi, Nima
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how aggressive cell states emerge in castration-resistant prostate cancer
A research project aims to uncover the hidden cell states that help prostate cancer resist standard therapy and how these states arise early in tumor development.
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Enhancer RNA CYP11A1-eRNA in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Researchers are testing a new RNA-based target, CYP11A1-eRNA, to see if blocking it can hamper the growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer in the lab and animal models.
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Targeted Immunostimulatory Dual Drug Conjugates for Heterogeneous Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Researchers are testing a targeted therapy approach to help people with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by boosting the immune system and delivering drugs directly to cancer cells.
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Androgen Receptor Action in Prostate Cancer that Stops Responding to Therapy
This grant supports research to understand why certain prostate cancers stop responding to AR-targeted therapies and to find new ways to target them.
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Hyperactive methylation in a hard-to-treat prostate cancer subtype
Researchers are studying a newly identified methylation-heavy group of advanced prostate cancer to understand its biology and find clues for better treatments.
-
Therapeutic Targeting of Lineage Plasticity in Advanced Prostate Cancer
A cancer research effort aimed at understanding and tackling how aggressive prostate cancers become resistant to standard AR-targeted 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.