Understanding advanced prostate cancer using mouse models
Official title: Preclinical analyses of advanced prostate cancer in genetically-engineered mice
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11258968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how BRCA1 and BRCA2 changes drive aggressive prostate cancer using specially bred mice to help find better treatments for men with treatment‑resistant disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 6, 2013 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $575,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA173481-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258968 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with advanced or treatment‑resistant prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors have BRCA1, BRCA2, or other DNA‑repair gene alterations, are the ideal candidates to benefit from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Men with early‑stage prostate cancer, tumors without DNA‑repair defects, or those unable to provide genomic data or samples are less likely to gain direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project uses genetically engineered mice that lose Brca1 or Brca2 in the prostate to replicate changes seen in men with advanced prostate cancer. The team studies how these changes cause fast‑growing, bone‑spreading tumors and how hormone (androgen) deprivation makes the disease worse. They combine the mouse experiments with computational tools, called OncoLoop, to match individual patient tumor profiles to the best mouse models and to predict drugs to test. The combined lab and computer approach aims to identify treatments targeted to specific molecular forms of aggressive prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal drug matches or treatment strategies that better help men with BRCA-related or DNA‑repair–defective advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: PARP inhibitors have helped some men with BRCA‑mutant prostate cancer and mouse models have guided such discoveries, though the patient‑to‑mouse matching platform used here is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abate-Shen, Cory — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Abate-Shen, Cory
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Drug that blocks tumor-made male hormones and the androgen receptor for advanced prostate cancer
A new medicine aims to block both the androgen receptor and the tumor’s own production of male hormones to help men with advanced, treatment‑resistant prostate cancer.
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Boosting a tumor-suppressing enzyme to fight advanced prostate cancer
A research grant aims to develop new molecules that enhance the PP2A enzyme to slow or stop progression of advanced prostate cancer.
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Modulating Androgen Signals to Boost CAR T Therapy for Prostate Cancer
A new approach uses CAR T cells targeting STEAP1 to treat advanced prostate cancer, with a focus on how androgen signals affect treatment effectiveness.
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Genomic clues to guide therapy in advanced prostate cancer
This grant looks at how a patient’s tumor and germline DNA could predict which targeted or immune therapies will work best for advanced prostate cancer.
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DACH1-based test to predict therapy response in advanced prostate cancer
A new test using DACH1 and other markers on prostate cancer tissue aims to predict which patients will respond to therapy and guide clinical trials.
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Understanding how doctors choose treatments to improve advanced prostate cancer care
A clinician-researcher at Duke is exploring how medical decisions are made in advanced prostate cancer to help patients get better, fairer care.
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.