Military supports prostate-cancer research at UW Carbone Cancer Center

DOD grants more than $3.5 million to support studies

MADISON, Wis. – UW Carbone Cancer Center scientists studying prostate cancer have received $3.5 million in new grants from the U.S. Department of Defense.

In addition, the UW Carbone Cancer Center was also renewed as a site for DoD’s Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium, and many members have ongoing DoD grants.

“This latest round of awards shows once again what an outstanding and robust prostate-cancer team we have here at UW Carbone,” says Dr. Howard Bailey, cancer center director. “Congratulations to all the scientists.”

The DoD prostate-cancer program began in 1997 with the goal of funding innovative research that will lead to cures for prostate cancer and enhance the well-being of men with the disease. UW researchers who received DoD Idea Development awards this year include:

Dr. David Jarrard, professor of urology, $573,750 over three years, for a study targeting enzymes that may drive the development of treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
Dr. Joshua Lang, assistant professor of medicine, $561,030 over three years to study androgen receptor genes in circulating tumor cells. This research is aimed at developing a blood test for prostate cancer, and to identify men whose cancer is likely to recur even after removal of the testicles.
Dr. Douglas McNeel, professor of medicine, $573,326 over three years to study ways to improve vaccine methods in a mouse model of prostate cancer. The goal is to develop better vaccines as treatments for men with recurrent prostate cancer.
Dr. Hasan Mukhtar, professor of dermatology, $573,750 over three years for a study testing an anti-fungal drug called Itraconazole, which shows promise in inhibiting the so-called “hedgehog” signaling pathway that spurs prostate-cancer
Dr. Vijayasaradhi Setaluri, professor of dermatology, $684,192 over three years to develop a model to understand the genetics underlying the disparity between prostate cancer rates of white Caucasian and black African-American men.
Dr. George Wilding, professor of medicine, $573,326 over three years to develop a blood test to identify patients with recurrent prostate cancer who will not respond or will develop quick resistance to certain treatments. It could save these patients from experiencing side effects as well as substantial out-of-pocket expense of prolonged and ineffective treatment.