Using dying tumor cells to boost radiation for prostate cancer
Targeting apoptotic cells to enhance radiotherapy
This project develops medicines that gather at dying tumor cells to help radiation kill prostate cancer more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158701 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is creating “prodrug” radiosensitizers that activate where cancer cells are undergoing apoptosis (cell death) after radiation, using a nanotechnology that causes the drug to assemble inside cells. Unlike many nanoparticle treatments, this approach does not rely on leaky tumor blood vessels but instead targets the early population of dying cells left by radiation. Researchers will make and characterize these prodrugs and test them in laboratory and animal models to see if they increase tumor killing while limiting toxicity. The ultimate aim is to improve outcomes for people receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer and reduce local recurrences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with localized or locally recurrent prostate cancer who are planning to receive or are receiving radiation therapy would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with cancers other than prostate cancer, those not receiving radiation therapy, or patients seeking an immediate clinical treatment should not expect direct benefit from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make radiation more effective against prostate tumors while reducing harm to nearby normal tissues.
How similar studies have performed: Some radiosensitizers and nanoparticle approaches have shown promise in preclinical and limited clinical work, but targeting apoptotic cells with a self-assembling prodrug is a novel strategy that has not been widely tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rao, Jianghong — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Rao, Jianghong
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.