Using guadecitabine to enhance immune response against prostate cancer
Official title: Guadecitabine-directed immune regulation in targeting prostate cancer
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11111889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a new treatment called guadecitabine can help the immune system better spot and fight prostate cancer cells, which could lead to better options for patients who haven't had much success with current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,889 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA292333-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111889 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly those who have not responded well to traditional immunotherapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those who have not yet undergone any form of immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how guadecitabine, a hypomethylating agent, can improve the immune system's ability to recognize and attack prostate cancer cells. By reversing certain epigenetic changes, the study aims to enhance the presentation of cancer antigens, making the cancer cells more visible to immune cells like CD8+ T cells. The approach focuses on modifying the tumor microenvironment to increase immune cell infiltration and improve treatment outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. If successful, this could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for patients who currently have limited responses to existing treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new immunotherapy strategy that significantly improves treatment outcomes for prostate cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using epigenetic therapies to enhance immune responses in various cancers, suggesting that this approach may be viable for prostate cancer as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karan, Dev — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Karan, Dev
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
Causal Protein Markers to Understand and Predict Prostate Cancer Risk in Africans and Europeans
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-
Ethical multimodal AI platform to improve prostate cancer detection with ultrasound
A patient-friendly AI system uses ultrasound and MRI information to help doctors better find prostate cancer, aiming to improve accuracy and access.
-
Characterizing epigenetic targets in prostate cancer to help AR-driven cancer
A research project at MD Anderson aims to understand how epigenetic factors shape androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer to find new ways to treat resistant forms of the disease.
-
AR and RNA-binding in prostate cancer resistance
A cancer research grant exploring how the androgen receptor’s interaction with RNA may drive treatment resistance in prostate cancer, with potential to guide new 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.