Research Type: Prostate Cancer
Project Description
Prostate cancer is often treated by chemically blocking “androgens” (male hormones). This “androgen deprivation” therapy is often initially successful but then the disease later progresses by acquiring “castration resistance.” Dr. Cai believes that the metabolism of dietary saturated fatty acids contributes to the progression of disease and promotes castration resistance of prostate cancer. This project will use several techniques including prostate cancer cells collected and grown from human prostate tumors to examine how dietary fatty acid metabolism may contribute to castration resistance and disease progression. These insights would propose dietary strategies for men being treated with androgen-deprivation therapy to reduce or delay the development of castration-resistance and enhance the survivorship of prostate cancer patients.
