An OU Health Sciences Center researcher and professor is the recipient of a national grant to study the specific causes of prostate cancer.

The National Institute of Health awarded a $1.5 million grant to Ralf Janknecht to study prostate cancer over the next five years, according to a press release. Thousands of researchers apply for research project grants from the institute, but about 20 percent receive one, according to the 2010 NIH Data Book.

“There is a dire need to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in prostate tumor genesis if we are to ultimately improve detecting, preventing, confining and curing this disease,” Janknecht said in a press release.

Janknecht’s lab studies two specific proteins, ETV1 and JMJD family proteins, to better understand the role they have in triggering the formation of tumors, he said.

ETV1 is often over-expressed in prostate cancer and may be related to its formation, he said.

Janknecht’s lab has identified possible targets of the protein. ETV1 is shown to work with JMJD2A proteins to form tumors. His lab will study how these two proteins interact to form prostate tumors, he said. The goal is to identify a target they could block with drugs to prevent tumors.

“[OU] is extremely proud to have Dr. Janknecht as a key member of the research team at the Stephenson Cancer Center,” President David Boren said in the press release. “This well-deserved grant is further recognition of the rapidly increasing stature of the OU Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma’s Cancer Center.”

Janknecht has studied tumor formation in prostate cancer for the last 10 years, he said.

Work for this specific project and grant began last year after a fundraiser dedicated to cancer research, according to the press release.

“We very much appreciate the efforts of Gene Rainbolt and other Oklahomans, whose generosity has allowed the Cancer Center to support new and innovative cancer research projects like this one,” Center Director Dr. Robert Mannel said in the press release.

This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 240,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 33,000 will die, according to its 2011 Cancer Facts and Figures guide.