Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and a major cause of cancer mortality. While some tumors are indolent without posing immediate danger, others become highly aggressive and treatment-resistant. We have discovered that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) send pro-tumorigenic signals that enhance cancer cell aggressiveness, and that prostate cancer cells in turn activate CAFs, creating a vicious cycle of cancer growth and spread. In this project, we will dissect these molecular interactions using patient-derived prostate cancer cells and CAFs co-cultured to mimic the tumor microenvironment, and screen for compounds that disrupt these deleterious signaling pathways. The resulting drug combinations may offer personalized and effective therapies to overcome treatment resistance.

2025

2029