Why some prostate cancers turn aggressive when MYC rises and PTEN is lost
Microenvironmental drivers of indolent to aggressive prostate cancer switch mediated by combined MYC Activation and PTEN loss
This project looks at how changes around prostate tumors cause some cancers to shift from slow-growing to aggressive in men whose tumors show MYC increases and PTEN loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168944 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses advanced mouse models that combine PTEN loss and MYC overexpression to mimic prostate cancers that become aggressive. They will study how surrounding cells — especially immunosuppressive myeloid cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts — are recruited and reshape the tumor environment. Researchers will measure chemokines like CXCL5, examine chromatin changes with techniques such as ATAC-seq, and use 3-D tissue assays to compare early lesions to invasive cancers. The goal is to find microenvironmental signals that mark or drive the switch to aggressive disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors show PTEN loss or MYC amplification, would be the most relevant group for eventual follow-up studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients without PTEN loss or MYC changes, or those seeking immediate treatment rather than participation in research, are less likely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify signals in the tumor environment that lead to aggressive prostate cancer and point to new targets for prevention or therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies have previously shown that PTEN loss and MYC cooperate to drive aggressive prostate cancer in models, but targeting the resulting microenvironmental changes remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yegnasubramanian, Srinivasan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Yegnasubramanian, Srinivasan
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.