NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Why prostate cancer spreads more often in African-American men

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

Funded at Emory University · NIH-11260239 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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

More Ovarian Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmory University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project startFebruary 1, 2023
Project endDecember 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$208,116
NIH project number5R00CA277580-04
Project IDNIH-11260239 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

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.

Less likely to help

People without prostate cancer or those whose tumors lack FGFR3 or OXPHOS-related changes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.

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.

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 gone: 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

  • Emory University
    Atlanta, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Collin, Lindsay Jane — Emory University
  • Study coordinator: Collin, Lindsay Jane

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Understanding what causes ovarian cancer to come back after treatment

    This study is looking at what causes ovarian cancer to come back after treatment, focusing on the genes and other markers that might help predict this, so that women with ovarian cancer can get better, more personalized care in the future.

    NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-11211522

  • Vaccine to help prevent ovarian cancer from coming back

    This vaccine trains Th17 immune cells to help women in first remission from high-grade ovarian cancer stay cancer-free after surgery and chemotherapy.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11178557

  • Targeting Hedgehog signaling to improve treatment for ovarian cancer

    This study is looking at how a specific pathway in ovarian cancer cells can be targeted to help make treatments work better for patients whose cancer keeps coming back after initial therapies.

    NIH research Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · Lubbock, United States · NIH-10545765

  • Improving early detection of ovarian cancer recurrence using MUC16 analysis

    This study is working on a new way to detect if high-grade serous ovarian cancer comes back by looking at a specific protein in the blood, which could help doctors catch it earlier and manage treatment better for women facing this condition.

    NIH research University of Kansas Lawrence · Lawrence, United States · NIH-10543477

  • Keloid recurrence study using multi-omics in diverse patients

    A research effort will look at why keloids come back after surgery, especially in African American patients, using comprehensive molecular data from patient samples.

    NIH research Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · East Lansing, United States · NIH-11641647

  • Understanding the experience of ovarian cancer after diagnosis to improve survivorship

    This NIH grant funds a mixed-methods study to better understand physical and emotional challenges faced by ovarian cancer survivors and how supportive care can help them live better after diagnosis.

    NIH research University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-11624191

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.