Antibody PET scans to find aging pancreatic cancer cells
Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Senescence with ImmunoPET
This project will test an antibody-based PET scan to find senescent (aging) cells in people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367082 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will create an antibody that recognizes markers on senescent pancreatic tumor cells and attach a PET imaging isotope so doctors can see where those cells are in the body. The work builds on treatments known to cause tumor cell senescence and will validate the imaging approach in laboratory models and tissue samples. The antibody PET method could also be adapted to carry a therapeutic isotope for targeted alpha therapy to kill senescent tumor cells. The team plans stepwise testing and validation with the goal of translating the tool toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with pancreatic cancer, especially those receiving or who have received therapies that can induce tumor cell senescence, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not display the targeted senescence markers are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get more precise imaging of therapy-induced senescent tumor cells and potentially receive targeted radiation delivered directly to those cells.
How similar studies have performed: Previous PET approaches have used small molecules to image senescence-related activity, but antibody-based immunoPET for senescence is a newer approach that has not yet been widely tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pratt, Edwin Charles — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Pratt, Edwin Charles
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 below.