Research Projects

"Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) … promoting interdisciplinary research and moving basic research findings from the laboratory to clinical settings..."

The PNW Prostate Cancer SPORE consists of four institutions that have large, multi-disciplinary teams of investigators and laboratories dedicated to prostate cancer research and a history of working closely together within this larger milieu. The respective teams of clinicians and researchers at these institutions bring considerable scientific depth and breadth required for confronting the most challenging problems blocking progress in our ultimate goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with prostate cancer. This SPORE provides the blueprint for building a large coordinated translational prostate cancer effort spanning the Pacific Northwest.

All participating institutions have made substantial commitments toward supporting the SPORE and its innovative, translational research projects:

Project 1: "Genetic Susceptibility to Clinically Aggressive Prostate Cancer"
A population-based cohort study to identify metastasis-modifier alleles predictive of prostate cancer progression and mortality
Project Leader: Janet Stanford, Ph.D.; Co-leader: Daniel Lin, M.D.

Project 3: "Characterization and Targeting of the Cytoprotective Chaperone, HSP27, in Metastatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer"
A translational study of the role of Hsp27 inhibition to target hormone refractory prostate cancer and mechanisms of cellular response to stress
Project Leader: Martin Gleave, M.D.; Co-leader: Colleen Nelson, Ph.D.

Project 4: "Mechanisms by Which the Type 1 Insulin-like Growth Factor Inhibition Enhances the Effects of Castration on Prostate Cancer"
A neoadjuvant study to confirm preclinical data showing that combined inhibition of androgens and the IGF receptor enhance prostate cancer response
Project Leader: Stephen Plymate, M.D.; Co-leader: Robert Montgomery, M.D.

Project 5: "Maximal Targeted Inhibition of Androgen Signaling for Prostate Cancer Therapy"
A study of tumor response to complete androgen ablation in relation to tissue levels of androgens and AR activity
Project Leader: Peter Nelson, M.D.; Co-leader: Paul Lange, M.D.

Supporting these research projects are four research cores.