Understanding how low-risk (Grade Group 1/Gleason 6) prostate cancer behaves
Defining the Biological Arc of Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer
This project looks at whether low-risk prostate cancer progresses or hides higher-grade disease over time, focusing on men on active surveillance and including African American men.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11182488 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have low-risk (Grade Group 1/Gleason 6) prostate cancer, this project will follow men on active surveillance over time to see if higher-grade cancer appears. Researchers will compare tissue from initial biopsies and any later biopsies or prostatectomy specimens using molecular analyses such as DNA sequencing and clonal tracing to learn whether higher-grade tumors come from the same original cells or are separate. They will study different tumor spots in the prostate to find molecular signs that a low-grade tumor might be masking undetected higher-grade disease. The team will give special attention to samples from African American men to understand whether tumor biology differs by race.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men diagnosed with Grade Group 1 (Gleason 6) prostate cancer, particularly those managed with active surveillance and African American men, are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Men with known higher-grade (Grade Group 2 or above) prostate cancer, or people without prostate cancer, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help men and their doctors choose safer surveillance or treatment by clarifying the true risk that a low-risk tumor will progress or conceal higher-grade cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Large active-surveillance programs show many men with GG1 do well without immediate treatment, but molecular predictors of hidden higher-grade disease are still new and not fully established.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salami, Simpa Samuel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Salami, Simpa Samuel
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.