Blocking fibroblast-made nutrients that feed pancreatic cancer
Official title: Targeting Stromal Influences on BCKA Addiction in PDAC Tumors
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11294161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether stopping support from tumor fibroblasts for a specific nutrient pathway can slow pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $565,643 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271369-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma—particularly those with stromal-rich tumors or tumors with SMAD4 loss—are the patients most directly related to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pancreatic cancer, or with PDAC tumors that lack stromal involvement or the specific metabolic features studied, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers aim to understand how cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor stroma produce branched-chain keto acids (BCKAs) that PDAC cells use to grow. They will compare metabolism in cancer and stromal compartments, study how loss of SMAD4 in tumor cells changes stromal behavior, and use patient-derived tumor samples and laboratory models to trace BCAA/BCKA exchange. Experiments will include genetic manipulation (eg, CRISPR), metabolic measurements, and tests of whether blocking stromal BCKA production limits tumor cell survival. The goal is to identify metabolic vulnerabilities in stromal-rich PDAC that could be developed into new treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal a new metabolic target to cut off nutrient support for pancreatic tumors and lead to therapies that slow tumor growth or recurrence.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical studies have linked branched-chain amino acid metabolism to cancer growth, but targeting stromal-derived BCKAs in PDAC is a newer approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nagrath, Deepak — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Nagrath, Deepak
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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.