# Project 1: Non-Invasive Clinical Assay for Early Detection of Treatment Resistance in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

> **NIH NIH P50** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $351,178

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Identifying patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that will no longer benefit from
potent androgen receptor (AR)-directed therapies is an unmet need. One mechanism involves loss of AR
signaling dependence and its early detection remains challenging. We have developed a genomic signature
associated with AR-independence and the neuroendocrine phenotype that can be detected non-invasively
using plasma samples from patients. In this proposal, we will develop a targeted assay applied to prospective
cohorts to assess tumor dynamics and clinical impact of AR-independent genomic alterations in predicting
response to subsequent AR-targeted therapies. We will also define the spectrum and pattern of circulating
tumor clones compared to matched biopsies in patients with metastatic CRPC using a whole exome
sequencing approach. This study would lead to further clinical development of a plasma genomic biomarker
with several areas of potential impact including early detection of patients transforming towards AR-
independence leading to early cessation of AR therapy and consideration of metastatic biopsy to look for
neuroendocrine transformation and platinum-based therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988244
- **Project number:** 5P50CA211024-04
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Himisha Beltran
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $351,178
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-30 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988244, Project 1: Non-Invasive Clinical Assay for Early Detection of Treatment Resistance in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer (5P50CA211024-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988244. Licensed CC0.

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