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Defining bone ecosystem effects on metastatic prostate cancer evolution and treatment response using an integrated mathematical modeling approach

Award Number: U01CA244101
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/11/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2025

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Defining bone ecosystem effects on metastatic prostate cancer evolution and treatment response using an integrated mathematical modeling approach - Project Summary Significance: Bone metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) is currently an incurable disease. While standard of care treatments (androgen deprivation therapy-ADT, chemotherapy) are initially effective, this heterogeneous disease often evolves to become resistant, thus representing a major clinical challenge. Our group also demonstrates that the bone ecosystem contributes to the emergence of resistant mPCa but how the ecosystem in turn, impacts the efficacy of standard of care treatment represents a major gap in our knowledge. Biology driven mathematical models offer a novel and effective means with which to address these complex issues since cancer evolution and bone ecosystem responses to applied therapies can be rapidly tested, optimized for efficacy to delay the onset of resistant disease, and subsequently, validated experimentally. Rationale: Using empirical data, we will generate an agent-based mathematical model to describe the interactions of heterogeneous mPCa cells with the surrounding bone microenvironment. In silico, we will test the effect of standard of care treatments ADT (Lupron) and chemotherapy (docetaxel) on the growth of cancer over time. The model can identify the impact of these treatments on mPCa cells but also the role of other bone cell types such as, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in disease progression. Based on this rationale, we hypothesize that experimentally powered HCAs can be used to dissect the bone ecosystem effects on mPCa evolution and optimize treatment strategies so as to prevent the emergence of resistant disease. To test this hypothesis, we propose three interdisciplinary aims. Approaches: In Aim 1, human prostate cancer cell line (VCaP and LAPC4) growth parameters will power a hybrid cellular automaton (HCA) agent-based mathematical model of heterogeneous mPCa in bone. The response of the model to standard of care therapy (ADT and or docetaxel) will be studied and results validated in vivo. In Aim 2, we will explore the role of the bone ecosystem, specifically MSCs, in controlling the emergence of resistance to standard of care treatments. Human data will be used to assess the clinical applicability of the eco-evolutionary HCA. In Aim 3, evolutionary algorithms (EA) will be used to guide the adaptive application of standard of care therapy. Innovation/Impact: Our innovative studies will; 1) generate a robust mathematical eco-evolutionary model of bone mPCa that can be used to dissect the role of the bone microenvironment in the emergence of resistance, 2) identify the effects of standard of care therapies on heterogeneous cancer cells and the bone ecosystem and, 3) allow for the rapid determination of optimized adaptive therapies that take into account the contributions of the bone ecosystem. We believe the proposed studies will significantly impact the way treatments are applied to men diagnosed with bone mPCa and ultimately improve their overall survival.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$68,259 )
2025	2024	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	5	9/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$68,259
														Subtotal = -$68,259

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $442,936 )
2024	2024	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	5	5/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$442,936
														Subtotal = $442,936

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $477,037 )
2023	2023	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	4	6/21/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$477,037
														Subtotal = $477,037

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $323,155 )
2022	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	3	7/18/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$323,155
														Subtotal = $323,155

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $515,073 )
2021	2021	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	2	5/10/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$515,073
														Subtotal = $515,073

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $520,437 )
2020	2020	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	6/11/2020	NEW	$520,437
														Subtotal = $520,437

Grand Total All Awards = $2,210,379

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Defining bone ecosystem effects on metastatic prostate cancer evolution and treatment response using an integrated mathematical modeling approach

Award Number: U01CA244101

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/11/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2025

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