Achievement

Andrew Paluch’s work with the Ron receptor has revealed a novel mechanism by which receptor tyrosine kinases regulate castration-resistant prostate cancer (CR-CaP). Using both in vivo and in vitro models of CR-CaP, Andrew has shown that Ron is up-regulated following castration and is transcriptionally regulated by androgen signaling. Moreover, Andrew has also shown that high expression of the Ron receptor is necessary for the development and maintenance of CR-CaP potentially through modulating alternative androgen receptor gene activation. These findings have clinical implications as well, as targeting the Ron receptor could prove efficacious in the treatment of CR-CaP given that Ron has been shown to be highly expressed in human hormone refractory prostate cancers. In addition, Andrew has successfully co-authored two papers in the last year in the laboratory of his mentor, Dr. Susan Waltz, that describe Ron’s role in the development of prostate cancer using mouse models.