A new treatment using tiny nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer
Official title: A novel dual-carrier ultrasmall nanomedicine for the treatment of stroma-rich pancreatic cancer
Funded at Duo Oncology INC · NIH-10759720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a tiny new treatment that combines a chemotherapy drug with an immune booster to better target pancreatic cancer, aiming to help patients get more effective therapy that could improve their chances of living longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duo Oncology INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $394,967 |
| NIH project number | 1R41CA285174-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10759720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with stroma-rich pancreatic cancer who are unable to undergo surgical resection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who can undergo surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an ultra-small nanoparticle that combines gemcitabine, a chemotherapy drug, with an immunomodulator to effectively target and treat pancreatic cancer. The nanoparticles are designed to penetrate the dense stroma surrounding tumors, which often limits the effectiveness of current therapies. By using advanced models, including ex vivo tumor explants and mouse models, the research aims to optimize the formulation and assess the safety and efficacy of this innovative treatment approach. Patients may benefit from a more effective therapy that could extend their lives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective treatment option for patients with pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using nanoparticles for cancer treatment is being explored, this specific application for stroma-rich pancreatic cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Duo Oncology INC
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eichinger, Katherine Marie — Duo Oncology INC
- Study coordinator: Eichinger, Katherine Marie
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.