Thursday, June 26, 2025 6/26/2025

VALIDATION OF A NEW TARGET FOR PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY

Award Number: R01CA102688
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2004
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2010

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

VALIDATION OF A NEW TARGET FOR PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Prostate cancer is a prevalent disease among men in the United Sates. Current therapies are limited, and there is no successful treatment once tumor cells have spread to other tissues. Discovery of successful therapies is still a truly important challenge. However, identification of new targets for cancer therapy requires a thorough understanding of the molecular processes that lead to cell transformation. Recent studies have shown that transcription factor Egr-1 (Early Growth Response-l) is present at much higher levels in human prostate tumors as opposed to normal cells. An important result from J. Milbrandt's laboratory was that lack of Egr-1 expression significantly delayed the progression of prostate carcinoma in mouse models. However, there has been no study to directly assess the role of Egr-1 in tumor initiation or to measure the effect of specifically blocking Egr-1 expression in prostate cancer cells. These issues are critical and need to be tested before designing Egr-based therapies. Our approach is based on the rationale that blocking Egr-1 expression in prostate cancer cells will inhibit cell proliferation and eventually stop tumor growth. We describe the design and obtaining of specific antisense oligonucleotides that block Egr-1 function. Preliminary results show that inhibition of Egr-1 expression in prostate cancer cell lines actually hampered cell proliferation and inhibited the capacity of these cells to form colonies in culture dishes and in soft agar, two hallmarks of transformed cells. Conversely, we observed that ectopic expression of Egr-1 in 267B prostate cells induced transformation. These data point to Egr-1 as a potential participant in prostate cancer progression and therefore, as a potential molecular target for prostate cancer therapy. The objectives of the present proposal are to: validate Egr-1 as a target for prostate cancer therapy in human systems and test the efficacy of the antisense oligonucleotide in animal models for prostate cancer (Specific Aim 1); identify Egr-1 functions in prostate cells and investigate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to Egr-1 oncogenic properties (Specific Aim 2). Demonstration that Egr-1 acts as an oncogene in prostate cancer challenges an existing paradigm given that this transcription factor is most often believed to have tumor suppressor effects in other cell types. The proposed study should lead to a novel understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer progression, validate a target for prostate cancer treatment and design a novel therapeutic approach.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2010	2008	VACCINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO	3030 SCIENCE PARK ROAD	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	6	5/12/2010	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	-$2,689
2010	2008	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10905 Road To The Cure	San Diego	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	5	5/12/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,689
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2009	2008	VACCINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO	3030 SCIENCE PARK ROAD	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	6	7/8/2009	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$52,266
2009	2008	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10905 Road To The Cure	San Diego	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	5	7/8/2009	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$52,266
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2008 ( Subtotal = $289,700 )
2008	2008	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10835 ALTMAN ROW	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	5	2/25/2008	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$289,700
														Subtotal = $289,700

Issue Date FY: 2007 ( Subtotal = $289,700 )
2007	2007	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10835 ALTMAN ROW	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	4	2/14/2007	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$289,700
														Subtotal = $289,700

Issue Date FY: 2006 ( Subtotal = $298,352 )
2006	2006	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10835 ALTMAN ROW	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	3	3/13/2006	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$298,352
														Subtotal = $298,352

Issue Date FY: 2005 ( Subtotal = $305,532 )
2005	2005	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10835 ALTMAN ROW	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	2	3/17/2005	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$305,532
														Subtotal = $305,532

Issue Date FY: 2004 ( Subtotal = $303,763 )
2004	2004	SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER	10835 ALTMAN ROW	SAN DIEGO	CA	92121	SAN DIEGO	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	3/25/2004	NEW	$303,763
														Subtotal = $303,763

Grand Total All Awards = $1,487,047

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

VALIDATION OF A NEW TARGET FOR PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY

Award Number: R01CA102688

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2004

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2010

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer