Grant: Project Grant

Prostate cancer affects one in every seven men in developed countries and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in males. The incidence of this disease will grow with significant increases in life expectancy, creating a perpetual burden on our healthcare system. The primary treatment for patients with advanced stages of prostate cancer is hormone therapy that blocks the effects of the androgens. However, emerging evidence indicates that this treatment can facilitate tumor transformation into a more aggressive type of cancers called treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC). We have found that the SRRM4 gene plays important roles in promoting t-NEPC development. In this study, we will measure SRRM4 expression levels in prostate tumors and investigate how SRRM4 induces t-NEPC development. This information will aid early detection of t-NEPC and direct drug development against t-NEPC.