The University of Illinois has been awarded a $366,242 Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396) to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, prostate androgen levels, and aggressive prostate cancer in African American men. The project aims to investigate the role of the protein megalin in mediating the effects of vitamin D on prostate hormone regulation, which may contribute to the observed disparities in prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness in this population. The research combines analyses of patient-derived models, mouse studies, and clinical samples to test the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency leads to increased prostatic androgens in African American men via megalin, resulting in an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The findings from this 5-year project have the potential to inform improved screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for prostate cancer in this high-risk group.
Generated 2/25/25, 5:15 AM