Xuesen Dong
Xuesen Dong, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences, has been named one of four grant recipients in the inaugural Rising Star in Prostate Cancer Research program of Prostate Cancer Canada.
Dr. Dong will conduct his research at the Vancouver Prostate Centre. His research focus will be on androgen receptor signaling in castration resistant prostate cancer.
Androgens are steroid hormones produced and secreted by the testes, which have been strongly implicated in prostate cancer. These hormones activate a protein inside the cell called the androgen receptor (AR). AR regulates several genes to promote tumor growth. Therefore, the primary treatment for advanced prostate cancers is the androgen depletion therapy, which either blocks androgen synthesis or prevents androgens from activating AR.
However, the effectiveness of this therapy is temporary. Many cancers progress into the androgen insensitive stage (also referred to as castration-resistant prostate cancer, CRPC), for which no curative option is available. One of the possibilities for the development of CRPC is that prostate cancer cells generate shorter forms of AR, called AR variant (ARv). ARv is constitutively active even under androgen free environments, and has been shown to promote prostate tumor growth regardless androgen deprivation therapy.
Dr. Dong’s research seeks to better understand how ARv is generated, which will be important to develop therapeutic means to prevent ARv from synthesizing in CRPC patients.
The “Rising Stars” program allows for research scientists in the first five years of their first academic or research appointment to work under the guidance of an experienced mentor, providing intensive career development in prostate cancer research. Each recipient receives a grant of $150,000 a year for salary support and research expenses, for a period of three years.
The grants are funded by the Movember Foundation. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their Mo’s, these Mo Bros and supporting Mo Sistas raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health issues. Since its inception as a charity event in 2004, over 2 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have raised almost $300 million for its causes with official Movember campaigns taking place in 21 countries.