Neoadjuvant Phase 2 Study Comparing the Effects of AR Inhibition With/Without SRC or MEK Inhibition in Prostate Cancer

Most prostate cancers respond to hormone therapy, also known as chemical castration. Unfortunately, castration resistance may occur in certain prostate cancers. Castration resistance or hormone refractory prostate cancer means that the cancer continues to progress as seen by progressively rising PSA and/or or an increase in tumor mass on bone scan, X-ray, CT scan or MRI despite previous hormonal therapy. The researchers are interested in understanding mechanisms of castration resistance in prostate cancer by analyzing prostate tissue before radical prostatectomy (from prostate biopsy tissue) and after radical prostatectomy (whole prostate specimen). They will look at the "molecular signature" of prostate cancer cells after hormone therapy to identify the key steps that the cancer cells undergo to become resistant to hormone therapy. In addition, the researchers will use other medications in addition to hormone therapy in order to block some of the key biochemical steps that are thought to mediate treatment resistance. This research will provide crucial information for the development of therapies that can improve the clinical outcome of patients with advanced prostate cancer.