Why prostate cancer spreads more often in African-American men

Identifying factors associated with ovarian cancer recurrence using a population-based approach

NIH-funded research Emory University · NIH-11260239

Looking at whether a gene called FGFR3 and the cell energy systems (OXPHOS) help explain why prostate cancer spreads more in African-American men.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmory University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project IDNIH-11260239 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient's point of view, researchers will compare tumor samples and clinical data from thousands of men to look for genetic changes linked to cancer spread. They will focus on FGFR3 gene changes, splice-site mutations, and differences in energy-making pathways (OXPHOS) that appear more often in tumors from African-American men. The team will compare primary tumors and metastatic lymph node samples and relate findings to ancestry-linked genetic variants. Their work combines large public datasets and local tumor samples to find patterns that might drive metastasis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Men with prostate cancer—especially African American men or those with recurrent or metastatic disease—would be the most relevant candidates for participation or sample contribution.

Not a fit: People without prostate cancer or those whose tumors lack FGFR3 or OXPHOS-related changes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to tests that predict aggressive prostate cancer and to new treatment targets that slow or prevent metastasis in higher-risk men.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked FGFR3 and metabolic (OXPHOS) pathways to cancer behavior, but using ancestry-linked genomic differences to explain metastasis in prostate cancer is a relatively new approach.

Where this research is happening

Atlanta, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.