Understanding how tumor neighbors help prostate cancer spread and resist therapy
Official title: Defining Tumor Microenvironmental Mediators of Prostate Cancer Metastasis and Therapy Resistance
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11352675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the tumor environment around prostate cancer cells promotes spread and resistance to common therapies, with a focus on a protein called ASPN.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285780-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11352675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, especially those with resistance to AR-targeted therapies, may be relevant for future translational steps.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without metastatic or AR-targeted therapy resistance may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how cancer-associated fibroblasts and ASPN in the tumor microenvironment influence metastasis and resistance to AR-targeted drugs like enzalutamide. By using patient-derived samples and experimental models, the team aims to map the signals that enable cancer cells to migrate and survive after therapy. The study combines molecular analyses, cell biology, and possibly animal or organoid models to connect ASPN activity with treatment outcomes. If successful, the findings could reveal new targets to prevent progression and improve responses for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new strategies to prevent metastasis and overcome therapy resistance in prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests ASPN+ fibroblasts are linked to worse outcomes and therapy resistance, supporting continued exploration in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurley, Paula Jill — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hurley, Paula Jill
Related research
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Understanding how prostate cancer spreads to bone and why it likes bone
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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.