By Chioma Obinna

As Prostate cancer continues to be a significant health challenge, affecting millions of men worldwide and ranking as the second most common cancer in men.

Among the pioneers addressing this critical issue is Yetunde Ebunlomo Oyende, a Ph.D. candidate at Drexel University College of Medicine, whose groundbreaking research is shedding new light on the mechanisms driving metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Oyende has garnered widespread recognition as a leading voice in oncology, with a focus on the intricate interplay between cancer metastasis and the tumor microenvironment. Her work spans several cancer types, including breast cancer, melanoma, and prostate cancer, but her current focus is on understanding how IL-1β, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, influences bone colonization in prostate cancer metastasis.

This is a particularly vital area of study as bone metastases are a significant cause of pain and mortality in prostate cancer patients.

Prostate cancer is primarily driven by androgen receptor (AR) activity, and standard treatments involve androgen-deprivation therapies or AR inhibitors. However, as Oyende’s research has highlighted, these therapies can paradoxically increase IL-1β levels in the tumor microenvironment, potentially promoting the progression to mCRPC—a stage with a dire prognosis.

Her studies have identified a novel mechanism where histone deacetylases acts as a transcriptional co-repressor of AR, plays a critical role in regulating IL-1β expression. By unraveling these molecular pathways, Oyende is paving the way for more targeted therapies to prevent the deadly spread of prostate cancer to the bones.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Oyende’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Lagos State University. Her undergraduate thesis explored the inhibitory effects of protein isolates from the Bambara groundnut on alpha-amylase and pancreatic lipase activity, demonstrating her early penchant for innovative research. During this time, she honed her technical skills across various laboratory disciplines, including hematology, microbiology, and biochemistry.

Her exceptional drive and intellectual curiosity led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Physiology at Drexel University. With a specialization in Drug Discovery and Development, Oyende has excelled in both coursework and research, mastering advanced topics such as molecular metabolism, neuropharmacology, and biostatistics. Her dissertation research has been conducted under the mentorship of the renowned Fatatis Lab, where she has made significant strides in elucidating the molecular underpinnings of prostate cancer metastasis.

As a graduate student, Oyende’s research portfolio is impressively diverse, encompassing projects on breast cancer brain metastases, melanoma, and prostate cancer.