# Project: Survivorship Care Physical Activity Initiative to Improve Disparities in HRQoL for Prostate Cancer Survivors (RELate Study)

> **NIH NIH U54** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2021 · $124

## Abstract

Full Research Project 1: Survivorship Care Physical Activity Initiative to Reduce Disparities in HRQOL
for Prostate Cancer Survivors (RELate Study)
SUMMARY
The late effects of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment can lead to unique physical and psychosocial issues that
impact their long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Increased physical activity (PA) is a modifiable
risk factor which may be targeted to address PCa survivorship-related treatment outcomes and lifestyle
behaviors. Increased PA may have greatest impact on outcomes for African-ancestry (AA) PCa survivors, who
tend to have lower HRQOL and overall survival, and in whom factors such as a lack of exercise, poor diet, and
rates of obesity are most prevalent. While it is well-known that exercise can improve prognosis among cancer
survivors, little is known about the bio-behavioral mechanisms and pathways through which PA may improve
HRQOL and increase overall survival. Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are reactive metabolites
produced during normal metabolism as well as the oxidation of biological macromolecules. Lifestyle factors
such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and obesity increase AGE levels in the body. The investigators
hypothesize that in a randomized trial of a human PA/dietary intervention with PCa survivors previously
diagnosed with Stage I-III PCa (n=120), lower AGE levels will correlate with improved HRQOL, and will lead to
differential changes in immune response between AA and European American (EA) trial participants. The
investigators further hypothesize that in a mouse model intervention, the mechanistic implications of lifestyle-
associated AGEs to tumor-associated immune response and tumor growth and/or progression will mimic those
found in human models. Aim 1 is to complete a 1-year, 2-arm (intervention vs usual care) randomized
PA/dietary intervention in men diagnosed with stage I-III PCa (co-led by Dr. M. Ahmed, SCSU and Dr. D.
Turner, MUSC-HCC). Aim 2 is to evaluate the effect of lifestyle intervention on PA and diet, and define their
relationship with AGEs, AGEs pre-cursors, and HRQOL in men diagnosed with stage I-III PCa (led by Dr.
Ahmed, SCSU). Aim 3 is to use a spontaneous PCa lifestyle mouse model to define the role of AGE-RAGE
signaling to immune-cell phenotypes and tumor progression (led by Dr. Turner, MUSC-HCC). The results
could lead to innovative insights for pharmacologic and lifestyle adjustment, and could identify protective
factors that may underlie observed differences in PCa treatment outcomes between AA and EA men. This
project is synergistically related to the other research projects included in this application

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246912
- **Project number:** 5U54CA210962-05
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** David Paul Turner
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $124
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-21 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246912

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246912, Project: Survivorship Care Physical Activity Initiative to Improve Disparities in HRQoL for Prostate Cancer Survivors (RELate Study) (5U54CA210962-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246912. Licensed CC0.

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