Combining targeted electrical tumor ablation with CD40 immune therapy for pancreatic cancer
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Combined with CD40 Agonism as In Situ Vaccine Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
This approach combines a local tumor‑killing procedure (IRE) with a CD40 immune‑stimulating drug injected into the tumor to boost immune attack against locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145261 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I have locally advanced pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. Doctors use irreversible electroporation (IRE), an electrical ablation technique, to kill tumor cells and release tumor bits that can alert the immune system. They plan to inject a CD40 agonist antibody directly into the tumor at the time of IRE to help antigen‑presenting cells turn those tumor bits into a stronger T‑cell response. In mouse models this combination improved local tumor control and reduced liver metastases, and local delivery may lower systemic side effects compared with giving the drug throughout the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with locally advanced, non‑metastatic but unresectable pancreatic cancer—often after initial systemic therapy—would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with widespread metastatic disease or those who cannot undergo IRE or intratumoral injection are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could shrink unresectable pancreatic tumors, reduce the chance of metastasis, and lower systemic side effects compared with systemic immune therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical animal studies of IRE plus local CD40 antibody showed reduced metastases, and CD40 drugs like mitazalimab have been tested systemically in humans, but the intratumoral IRE+CD40 combination is still relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Rebekah — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: White, Rebekah
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.