The identification of novel prostate cancer therapeutics
is a significant clinical need because current hormone
therapies eventually fail, leading to a drug-resistant and
fatal disease termed castrate-resistant prostate cancer.
Men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer often exhibit
an increase in androgen receptor (AR) protein levels.
Previous work in our laboratory shows that this increased
level of AR is necessary and sufficient for the
progression of prostate cancer to castrate-resistant
disease and its function is necessary to sustain tumor
growth. In addition to castrate-resistant prostate cancer,
AR is expressed in nearly all prostate tumors and AR
expression is necessary for tumor maintenance. Taken
together, these data suggest that AR plays a critical role
in hormone-sensitive and castrate-resistant prostate
cancer and remains an important target for prostate cancer
therapeutics. My research focuses on identifying
alternative approaches to current hormone therapies by
identifying novel regulators of the androgen receptor.
This research will allow us to better understand the
underlying mechanism of prostate cancer development and
has great potential to translate into beneficial
treatments for men living with prostate cancer.
