Helen Pearson | Investigating BCL3 as a therapeutic target to treat prostate cancer

Helen Pearson, Cardiff University, United Kingdom Title: Investigating BCL3 as a therapeutic target to treat prostate cancer Abstract: Metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) is the leading cause of mortality among patients with prostate cancer, primarily due to its resistance to conventional treatments such as androgen/AR-targeted therapy (ARTT). The oncogenic BCL3-NF-kB signalling pathway is frequently upregulated in advanced PC, including ARTT-resistant disease, thus presenting a novel therapeutic target that is urgently needed to aid patient care. Previously, we have developed a novel range of small molecule BCL3 inhibitors (BCL3i) that are efficacious against breast and colorectal cancers. Our promising preliminary findings indicate that targeting BCL3 using our new BCL3i (TNAT-101) is also efficacious against high-risk localised/locally advanced prostate cancer (HRLPC) ex vivo, and can increase ARTT-sensitivity in vitro. However, how BCL3 contributes to prostate tumour formation/progression and ARTT-resistance is currently unclear, and additional in-vivo work is needed to explore at which stage of disease progression BCL3i is most efficacious. Using several unique and well characterised preclinical prostate cancer models that recapitulate clinical disease, this project will investigate the functional importance of BCL3 during prostate tumourigenesis and ARTT-resistance, and establish the therapeutic benefit of our BCL3i (TNAT-101) in treating/preventing HRLPC and hormone-sensitive/castration-resistant mPC (mHSPC/mCRPC). The collective findings from this study will inform the design of future clinical trials focused on BCL3-targeted therapy in HRLPC/mHSPC/mCRPC, whilst advancing our molecular understanding of BCL3i sensitivity and biomarkers for response. Ultimately, these endeavours aim to enhance patient care and augment survival rates for patients with prostate cancer. #WCCRT2026 #cancerresearch #cancertherapy #oncology #CancerConference #medicalconferences #healthcareinnovation #cancerawareness #immunotherapy #precisionmedicine #cancertreatment #oncologyresearch #globalhealth #medicalscience #cancercare #cancercommunity #cancerbreakthrough #lifesciences #clinicalresearchcoordinator #oncologista #oncologie #cancer #cancertarot #cancerawareness #oncologyresearch #medicaloncology #radiationoncology #surgicaloncology #pediatriconcology #oncologycare #oncologyinnovation #oncologyexperts #cancerbiology #molecularoncology #targetedtherapy #CancerImmunology #oncologynursing #CancerEpidemiology #OncologyAdvances #cancerprevention #earlydetection #cancerscreening #oncologyeducation