2025 Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine – PCF Young Investigator Award
Discern the Impact of Circadian Cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) on Metabolic Rewiring in Prostate Cancer
Arwa Fallatah, PhD
HJF – Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine / Uniformed Services University
Mentors: Ayesha Shafi, Salma Kaochar
Description:
- Disruptions in circadian rhythm have been linked to various physiological conditions, including prostate cancer. Previous studies indicate that a core circadian clock gene, CRY1, regulates DNA damage repair in prostate cancer models. CRY1 also plays multiple roles in circadian regulation, DNA repair, and metabolic homeostasis, linking circadian rhythm to metabolic regulation, which is another factor that influences prostate cancer growth and progression.
- Dr. Arwa Fallatah hypothesizes that CRY1 is a crucial modulator of prostate cancer growth and survival, and that understanding its role in metabolic deregulation will improve management strategies for the disease.
- In this project, Dr. Fallatah and team will determine the mechanism of action of CRY1 in metabolic regulation and the impact of CRY1 function on tumor progression.
- If successful, these studies will define the role of circadian rhythm regulation in metabolic rewiring and prostate cancer biology and may identify strategies for treating CRY1-defective prostate cancer.
What this means to patients: Disruptions in circadian rhythm, such as jet lag, shift work, sleep disruption, and suppression of melatonin by exposure to light at night are all associated with increased risk of prostate, breast, and colon cancer. Dr. Fallatah’s project will determine the role of circadian rhythm alterations in prostate cancer metabolism, growth, and disease progression. These studies will lead to novel strategies for treating CRY1 deregulated cancers in combination with metabolic pathway targeting, for the prevention and/or management of metastatic disease.