UC Davis secures $2M to study bone health in prostate cancer, prevent post-injury arthritis

Editor's Note

The UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has received more than $2.2 million in Department of Defense funding for two research projects addressing bone health in prostate cancer and preventing arthritis after joint injuries, a UC Davis Health July 15 news release reports. The larger grant, $1.8 million, will investigate how weakened bones influence the spread of prostate cancer, a disease that often metastasizes to the skeleton and is the second leading cause of cancer death in men.

The 3-year study will reportedly use aging mouse models to better replicate the skeletal health of older patients. The team will test whether the osteoporosis drug romosozumab, already FDA-approved for women, can rebuild bone and reduce cancer spread. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer are older and experience bone loss, often worsened by androgen deprivation therapy, yet few undergo bone density screening, the lead researcher noted. The risk is especially high among military veterans, who have double the rate of prostate cancer compared to civilians and a greater likelihood of bone injuries.

According to the news release, if the drug proves effective, it could be repurposed quickly for prostate cancer care, integrating bone-targeted therapy into oncology to help prevent the deadliest stages of the disease. The chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery emphasized skeletal involvement accounts for about 20% of US cancer care costs, making this work both medically and economically significant.

The second grant, $442,750, will support a 2-year investigation into preventing post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), a disabling condition that often develops after injuries such as ACL or meniscus tears. This study will focus on a recently identified cellular process called lactylation, which may drive joint damage and pain after trauma.

The outlet reports the researchers will use advanced protein analysis and genetically modified mice to determine whether blocking lactate production can protect joints. If lactylation is confirmed as a key factor, it could lead to the first drugs capable of preventing arthritis before it begins. PTOA offers a unique early-intervention window, particularly for military service members and athletes who face more than a 50% risk of developing the condition within 10 to 20 years of injury, the lead researcher explained.