Prostate Cancer Foundation gives grant to Duncan Cancer Center

Researchers from the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine received a $1 million grant from the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The two-year grant will allow researchers to study new ways of treating prostate cancer that is treatment-resistant by focusing on finding new ways to block androgen receptor signaling activity.

The research team will be led by Dr. Bert O'Malley, chair of molecular and cellular biology at BCM. Other members of the team include Nicholas Mitsiades, Nancy Weigel, Ming-Jer Tsai, Francesco DeMayo, Michael Ittman and Sean McGuire.

The group has already identified a number of proteins that are essential for androgen receptor activity. In upcoming animal studies, the team will test compounds it hopes will inhibit this activity as a way of treating the cancer.

The team from BCM is one of nine to receive a Challenge Award, which is designed to support cross-disciplinary terms of investigation.

For more information on the cancer center, visit www.bcm.edu/cancercenter.