Prostate Cancer Program (PCP)

Overview

Research of the Prostate Cancer Program (PCP) focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of prostate and genitourinary cancer progression and on identifying potential targets for more effective therapies, prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of these cancers. The program has special expertise in urologic surgery, clinical pharmacology, and the development of new drugs and hormone therapies. Program members are currently exploring ways to overcome frequent resistance to certain drug treatments, as well as studying the use of novel agents for the treatment of prostate and bladder cancer.

Basic research by PCP investigators has lead to several clinical trials, including an international Phase III clinical trial testing the efficacy of endothelin antagonist ZD4054 for patients with advanced prostate cancer, a new investigator-initiated trial of concurrent hormone and chemotherapies for androgen-sensitive prostate cancer in xenograft tumor models, a phase I clinical trial of benzaldehyde dimethane sulfonate (NSC281612, BEN), and a Phase II clinical trial testing the effect of 5α reductase inhibition during the off cycle of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy.