Topic Areas of Focus for 2008 Challenge Awards

Discovery, Validation, and Kinetics of Progression Biomarkers
Summary: A progression biomarker is any measurable change that heralds the progression of prostate cancer. These biomarkers predict and can be used as surrogates for treatment outcome.  We seek proposals that will identify and validate progression biomarkers that will predict treatment outcome.
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Novel Therapeutic Targeting of ETS Gene Fusions and Lethal Prostate Cancer Signal Transduction
Summary: Experimental models of prostate cancer are used to study prostate cancer biology, identify new treatments approaches, and screen for new drugs that might serve as prostate cancer therapeutics. The experimental models currently available do not accurately capture the clinical biology of the disease and are not good predictors clinical outcome. We seek models that define more accurately the clinical biology of prostate cancer such that new medications can be more accurately identified, screened, and qualified for nomination to the clinic.
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Targeting Intracrine (intra-tumoral) Androgens and Novel Androgen Receptor Signal Disruption
Summary: The androgen receptor is an engine fueled by testosterone that promotes the survival and progression of prostate cancer. Recent findings show that tumors produce their own testosterone which fuels tumor growth in spite of hormone therapy. We seek proposals in this area that will halt testosterone production within tumors and inhibit the androgen receptor in new ways to prevent the survival and progression of prostate cancer.
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New Predictive Research Models of Prostate Cancer Clinical Biology
Summary: Experimental models of prostate cancer are used to study prostate cancer biology, identify new treatments approaches, and screen for new drugs that might serve as prostate cancer therapeutics. The experimental models currently available do not accurately capture the clinical biology of the disease and are not good predictors clinical outcome. We seek models that define more accurately the clinical biology of prostate cancer such that new medications can be more accurately identified, screened, and qualified for nomination to the clinic.
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Basic Clinical Investigation of Prostate Cancer Patient Metabolism, Quality of Life, Nutrition, and Survivorship
Summary:  Aberrant metabolism can be caused by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy lifestyle.  Recent observations suggest that a patient’s metabolism is a major determinant of treatment response and disease progression.  We seek proposals that will define optimal nutrition, exercise habits, and lifestyle changes to slow the progression of prostate cancer and complement disease treatment.
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Epigenetic- and Epigenomic- Informed Therapeutic Targets in Prostate Cancer
Summary: Prostate cancer is not only caused by an accumulation of genetic mutations in DNA but also by alterations in the way DNA is stored and retrieved. Epigenetics defines the chemical and structural organization of DNA that acts as the machinery behind DNA storage and retrieval. We seek proposals in this area that will define epigenetic strategies to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.
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Molecular and Mechanism Based Immunotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer
Summary: The immune response is the body's natural defense against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses and cancer. Cancer evades the immune response by a variety of mechanisms, protecting tumor from being detected and destroyed. We seek proposals that will boost the ability of an individual’s immune response to recognize, respond to, and prostate cancer.
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Prostate Cancer Stem Cell Biology and Treatment Research
Summary: It is believed that a small fraction of cells within the prostate cancer tumors are stem cells that have the ability to resist therapy and renew themselves continuously. Prostate cancer stem cells may be the therapy resistant fraction of tumors. We seek proposals that will identify and characterize prostate cancer stem cells, and will discover targets for treatments that will eliminate prostate cancer stem cells.
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