Blocking Perp to slow pancreatic cancer and cancer-related muscle wasting
Targeting Perp in PDAC tumor and cancer cachexia
This project will test whether lowering a protein called Perp can shrink pancreatic tumors and help people with pancreatic cancer who are losing weight and muscle.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Charlotte NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlotte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11363734 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work focused on a protein called Perp that is higher in many pancreatic tumors and linked to worse outcomes. In mouse models the team found that blocking Perp reduced tumor growth and helped preserve muscle and fat. The researchers will combine lab experiments with analyses of patient tumor data to learn how Perp drives both the cancer and the wasting (cachexia). The goal is to develop ways to block Perp that could eventually lead to new treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer and severe weight loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those experiencing cancer-associated weight loss or whose tumors show elevated Perp or mutant p53.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not have elevated Perp or mutant p53 are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, targeting Perp could slow tumor growth and reduce cancer-related muscle and weight loss, improving survival and quality of life for people with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: This is a novel approach: there are encouraging preclinical (mouse and lab) results but no established human therapies targeting Perp and no FDA-approved treatments that reliably reverse cancer cachexia.
Where this research is happening
Charlotte, United States
- University of North Carolina Charlotte — Charlotte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dasgupta, Aneesha — University of North Carolina Charlotte
- Study coordinator: Dasgupta, Aneesha
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.