Using an oral LSD1 blocker to target aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer
Official title: Molecular features promoting sensitivity to LSD1i in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11301841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if an oral drug that blocks the LSD1 enzyme can kill or slow aggressive neuroendocrine and castration-resistant prostate cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,881 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279993-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, particularly those whose tumors show neuroendocrine features or who progressed on potent androgen-receptor–targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or tumors lacking the LSD1-related molecular features described are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on aggressive metastatic prostate cancers that no longer respond to hormone therapy, especially tumors that have neuroendocrine features. Researchers will use genomic and pharmacogenomic analyses plus laboratory models to find molecular features that make these tumors sensitive to an oral LSD1 inhibitor called bomedemstat. The work combines tissue and molecular studies with drug-response testing to pinpoint which patients’ tumors are most likely to respond. Findings are intended to guide near-term clinical use of the drug and to identify biomarkers for future patient selection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a targeted oral treatment option or biomarker-guided therapy for men with aggressive, treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: LSD1 inhibitors have shown promise in laboratory studies and early clinical work for other diseases, but applying a specific LSD1 blocker to neuroendocrine prostate cancer is a relatively new and translational effort.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brennen, William Nathaniel — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Brennen, William Nathaniel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.