Blocking immune-suppressing cells and fibroblast signals to help pancreatic cancer treatments work better
Disrupting MDSC-fibroblast interactions to overcome chemoimmunotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer
['FUNDING_R37'] · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11178631
They're seeing if blocking communication between immune-suppressing cells and tumor fibroblasts can help chemotherapy and immunotherapy work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11178631 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and how tumors recruit suppressive immune cells (gMDSCs) and reactive fibroblasts (CAFs) that together blunt treatment effects. Researchers will study human tumor samples and lab models to map how gMDSC-derived transmembrane TNF signals to TNFR2 on CAFs and how that interaction drives resistance to chemoimmunotherapy. They will test ways to disrupt this signaling in preclinical models and analyze patient tumor datasets to identify tumors with high TNF–TNFR2 activity. The goal is to find approaches that could be moved into treatments or clinical trials to restore treatment response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma—especially those whose tumors are not responding to standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy and who can provide tissue samples or enroll in future trials.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors lack the TNF–TNFR2 signaling pattern targeted by this work are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make chemotherapy and immunotherapy more effective against pancreatic cancer and help more patients respond to treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Other research targeting suppressive immune cells has shown promise in lab and animal models, but directly blocking tmTNF–TNFR2 interactions in pancreatic cancer is a newer approach not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE — CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DATTA, JASHODEEP — UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: DATTA, JASHODEEP
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.