Targeting DNA damage repair in neuroendocrine prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, adenocarcinoma cells can transdifferentiate into neuroendocrine cells upon treatment with androgen receptor-targeted therapies, leading to a highly aggressive and metastatic disease. Dr. Nunes de Almeida hypothesizes that DNA damage repair (DDR) genes drive this transdifferentiation. Thus, she aimed to investigate the role of DDR genes in prostate cancer progression by studying genetically engineered mouse models. In addition, she plans to develop a co-clinical analysis of candidate drugs predicted to function in patients with altered DDR genes. She anticipates that targeting DDR genes will reduce neuroendocrine transdifferentiation, improving the outcome of men with lethal prostate cancer.