Vitamin D deficiency and its impact on prostate cancer in African American men
Official title: Men of African Ancestry are primed for aggressive prostate cancer by high prostate androgens driven by vitamin D deficiency and megalin
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11086169 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how low levels of vitamin D might impact hormone levels in the prostate, especially in African American men who are more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer, to better understand how a specific protein plays a role in this process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 8, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $369,337 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290811-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086169 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include African American men who are at risk for or diagnosed with prostate cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not of African ancestry or those who do not have prostate cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how vitamin D deficiency affects hormone levels in the prostate, particularly in African American men who are at a higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer. The study aims to understand the role of a protein called megalin in regulating these hormones and how this relationship may differ based on ancestry. By analyzing clinical samples and using patient-derived models alongside mouse studies, the research seeks to uncover mechanisms that contribute to the increased aggressiveness of prostate cancer in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for aggressive prostate cancer in African American men.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown a correlation between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer aggressiveness, suggesting that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nonn, Larisa — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Nonn, Larisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Low vitamin D and megalin may raise prostate hormones and aggressive cancer risk in men of African ancestry
This work looks at whether low vitamin D increases prostate dihydrotestosterone through megalin and raises aggressive prostate cancer risk in men of African ancestry.
-
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
A cancer research project looking at proteins linked to prostate cancer to better understand why it happens and how risk differs between African and European populations.
-
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.
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.