Blocking metabolic support between pancreatic tumors and nearby tissue
Targeting Tumor-Stromal Metabolic Cross-Talk in Pancreatic Cancer
Seeing whether stopping metabolic links between pancreatic tumors and nearby support cells can make treatments work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11277834 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers are studying how pancreatic tumor cells and the surrounding stromal cells trade nutrients to help the tumor survive. They focus on a cancer gene called MUC1 and an enzyme named PHGDH that can produce a molecule (D-2HG) which helps tumor cells live when glucose is scarce. Using genetic tools like CRISPR and laboratory models, the team aims to block this metabolic cross-talk and observe how tumors respond. The goal is to identify targets that could lead to new drugs or future clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic cancer, particularly those whose tumors show high MUC1 activity or signs of altered tumor metabolism, would be the most likely candidates for future trials stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not depend on the targeted metabolic pathway are unlikely to benefit from the approaches described in this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that make pancreatic tumors more vulnerable to current therapies and slow disease progression.
How similar studies have performed: Related metabolic-targeting strategies have shown promise in lab and preclinical studies, but turning those findings into effective patient treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Pankaj Kumar — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Singh, Pankaj Kumar
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.