Antibody to help surgeons find pancreatic cancer during surgery
Preclinical development of a novel antibody conjugate for intraoperative detection of pancreatic cancer
A fluorescent antibody that sticks to pancreatic tumors so surgeons can better see and remove cancer during an operation for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284084 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project links an antibody that recognizes MUC16, a protein often on pancreatic tumors, to a dye so tumors glow during surgery. In lab and animal studies the team will check how specifically the antibody binds tumors, where it travels in the body, and what dose gives the clearest signal. They will also monitor safety and how the agent clears from normal tissues before any human use. If preclinical results are promising, the agent could move into clinical testing for patients having pancreatic surgery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with known or suspected pancreatic cancer who are planning surgical tumor removal, especially if their tumor expresses the MUC16 marker.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer, those not undergoing surgery, or patients whose tumors do not express MUC16 are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help surgeons remove more tumor tissue and reduce the chance of leaving cancer behind, which may improve outcomes after surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Other fluorescent antibody imaging probes have shown promise in preclinical and early clinical work, but MUC16-targeted intraoperative imaging is relatively new and mostly preclinical.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohs, Aaron M. — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mohs, Aaron M.
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.