Understanding how prostate cancer resists treatment
Unravel a novel metabolic pathway orchestrating prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance
This project looks for new ways to stop prostate cancer from growing and resisting current treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169667 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Prostate cancer is a serious disease, and while initial treatments like androgen ablation therapy (ABT) often work, many men eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which no longer responds. This happens because cancer cells find ways to survive even with very low levels of male hormones. This project aims to understand how certain prostate cancer stem cells, which are a small but powerful group of cells, contribute to this resistance. By identifying key targets within these stem cells, we hope to find new ways to overcome treatment resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research aims to help men with prostate cancer, particularly those whose cancer has become resistant to hormone therapy.
Not a fit: Patients whose prostate cancer is still responding well to initial hormone therapy may not directly benefit from this specific research focus at this stage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific metabolic pathway being studied is novel, other research has shown the importance of understanding cancer stem cells and signaling pathways in treatment resistance.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Hui-Kuan — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Lin, Hui-Kuan
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.