Grant ID RP120380
Awarded On November 02, 2011
Title Distinct microRNAs Regulate Prostate Cancer Stem Cells
Program Academic Research
Award Mechanism Individual Investigator
Institution/Organization The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Principal Investigator/Program Director Dean G Tang
Cancer Sites Prostate
Contracted Amount $750,000
Lay Summary

This project aims to elucidate how three miRNAs (i.e., miR-34a, miR-141, and let-7b) regulate prostate cancer stem cells, which intrinsically express low levels of androgen receptor, are relatively undifferentiated, and may represent important cells of origin for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Our ultimate goal is, through studies such as those proposed herein, to translate key miRNAs functionally important for prostate cancer stem cells into clinical therapeutics against advanced, castration-resistant diseases.