Antidepressants as a potential weapon against pancreatic cancer spread
Official title: Antidepressant regulation of PDAC
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11396327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether commonly used antidepressants can help reduce spread and improve treatment response in pancreatic cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,200 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA300847-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer or at risk for PDAC who might benefit from novel combination therapies involving antidepressants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose PDAC biology does not involve the pathways targeted by antidepressants or who cannot take antidepressant medications.
What this research studies
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often deadly because it is diagnosed late and resists current therapies. The research explores whether antidepressants can lower cancer spread and boost anti-tumor immune responses by impacting a key enzyme involved in tumor biology. In mouse models and early clinical observations, these drugs appeared to reduce fibrosis, invasion of nerves by cancer, and metastasis, while enhancing CD8 T cell activity. The study aims to translate these findings toward treatments that patients with PDAC could benefit from in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, accessible strategies to slow PDAC progression and improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in mouse models show reduced metastasis and improved anti-tumor immunity with antidepressants; human data are preliminary.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Valerie Marie — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Valerie Marie
Related research
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Reprogramming PDAC stroma by targeting blood clotting in the tumor environment
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Understanding paracrine signals in pancreatic cancer to improve drug delivery
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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.