Research: Dr. Plymate’s laboratory has continued work in prostate cancer over the past year. There have been three areas of funded research in his program. These include 1: control of prostate cancer growth and metastasis by inhibition of the type 1 IGF receptor with human monoclonal antibodies. Results in this area over the past year have shown that IGF-IR inhibition markedly enhances effects of castration by altering nuclear localization of the androgen receptor by changing AR phosphorylation sites. In collaboration with Dr. Higano, a phase 1 trial of a human IGF-IR mab is in progress at the SCCA. 2: The role of extracellualr matrix proteins, specifically laminins, in regulation of the senescent prostate epithelial phenotype and angiogenesis. This work has resulted in Dr. Plymate receiving a U54 grant in the Tumor Microenvironment Network NCI program as well as a local grant for study of laminin alpha 4 subunits. 3:  Dr. Plymate has continued his collaboration with Dr. J. Wu on the innate NK immune system in prostate cancer.

Clinical: Dr. Plymate  attends in the Prostate Cancer Clinic at VAPSHCS, the TCU at VAPSHCS, Geriatrics  consult service at HMC and Medicine Wards at HMC

Education: Teaching- Geriatric and Oncology fellows. Internal Medicine Residents. UW 2nd,3rd,and 4th year medical students, Molecular and cell biology graduate students, Mentor on K12 NIH program for male reproduction.