Understanding how gut bacteria affect hormone levels in prostate cancer patients
Official title: Deciphering microbial contribution to androgen bioavailability in castration resistant prostate cancer patients
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10766201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect hormone levels in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer, and it needs patients to share stool samples and health information to help uncover how these bacteria could influence treatment outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $148,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277064-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10766201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with castration-resistant prostate cancer who are undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with prostate cancer who are not castration-resistant or those who are not undergoing any form of androgen deprivation therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of gut microbiome in influencing androgen levels in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). It explores how specific gut bacteria can convert testosterone precursors into active testosterone, potentially impacting treatment outcomes. By analyzing the interactions between androgens and gut bacteria, the study aims to uncover new insights into hormone bioavailability and its effects on cancer progression. Patients may be involved in providing stool samples and health data to help researchers understand these microbial interactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for prostate cancer by optimizing androgen levels through microbiome modulation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results regarding the influence of gut microbiota on hormone metabolism, indicating that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gharaibeh, Raad — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Gharaibeh, Raad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.