Using blood tests and single-cell epigenetics to detect aggressive changes in prostate cancer
Official title: Mapping the epigenetic dynamics of prostate cancer progression: integrating liquid biopsies and single-cell epigenomics for early detection of lineage plasticity and clinical decision-making
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11507481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use blood-based liquid biopsies and single-cell epigenetic tests to look for early signs that prostate cancer is becoming resistant to hormone treatments in men with advanced disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $201,524 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA300092-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11507481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with advanced or castration-resistant prostate cancer, especially those currently or previously treated with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors like enzalutamide, would be the best fit to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Men with low-risk, localized prostate cancer who have never received AR-targeted therapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be asked to give blood and, when available, tumor samples so researchers can study epigenetic marks at the single-cell level. The team will combine liquid biopsy data with single-cell epigenomic profiles from clinically annotated specimens to track when prostate cancer cells change identity (lineage plasticity). They are particularly focused on spotting early emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer and patterns linked to resistance to AR-targeted drugs like enzalutamide. The goal is to develop epigenetic signatures from these samples that could guide future treatment choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect treatment-resistant or more aggressive prostate cancer earlier so doctors can change therapies sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Liquid biopsies and epigenetic biomarkers have shown promise for monitoring cancer, but using single-cell epigenomics to predict neuroendocrine transformation and ARSI resistance is a newer approach with limited clinical proof so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freedman, Matthew L — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Freedman, Matthew L
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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.