Understanding why some WTC-related prostate cancers come back
Official title: Decoding Spatial and Cellular Heterogeneity in Recurrence of WTC-Related Prostate Cancer
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11387166 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study uses advanced tissue mapping to find why prostate cancer recurs in World Trade Center responders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,614 |
| NIH project number | 5R21OH012959-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387166 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with a history of World Trade Center exposure and prostate cancer, particularly those with recurrent or aggressive disease, may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without prostate cancer or without WTC exposure are unlikely to benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
Prostate cancer is more common in World Trade Center responders, and some tumors recur and become more aggressive. The project will map where different cells and genetic signals are active inside tumors to understand recurrence better. By using spatial transcriptomics and other multi-omics tools on the Mount Sinai WTC tumor biobank, researchers aim to pinpoint pathways and cell interactions linked to relapse. The goal is to identify targets for therapies that could prevent or treat recurrent cancer in this group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could reveal new hot spots and pathways to target, potentially guiding personalized treatments for patients with recurrent WTC-related prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary molecular profiling of WTC-related tumors exists; this project advances those insights with spatial and multi-omics analyses.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Kuan-Lin — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Huang, Kuan-Lin
Related research
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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.