Cancer researcher honored for work developing new treatments for prostate cancer

The American Cancer Society will honor scientist Andrew Goldstein, an assistant professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology and urology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, with its Giants of Science Hope award.

The Hope award is given to a researcher of great promise who is working in a critical area of cancer research.

Goldstein, a member of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and his laboratory studies the cellular and molecular basis of prostate cancer. He is working to find new treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer, the most advanced stage of the disease. His research is also focused on identifying and understanding the mechanisms of prostate cancer initiation and progression.

His recent work, which is in part funded by the American Cancer Society, addresses the effects of inflammation on progenitor cells that can initiate cancer and the role of the molecule CD38 in the creation of prostate tumors. Through understanding how these cells and molecules work, Goldstein hopes to help find new targeted treatments for advanced prostate cancer.

“It’s an honor to be selected by the American Cancer Society for this award,” Goldstein said. “Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in American men and the award helps highlight the need for improved treatments and screening methods for the disease. By understanding the role of progenitor cells and the factors that regulate their behavior, we hope we can help contribute to the development of new drugs to stop the progression of prostate cancer.”

Goldstein will accept the award at the organization’s annual research award gala on Oct. 18 in Beverly Hills.

Along with funding from the American Cancer Society, Goldstein’s research is supported by the Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust and STOP Cancer.