Complement system and cancer cachexia in pancreatic cancer
Official title: The Complement System and Cancer Cachexia
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11404094 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused research project studying how the body's complement system may contribute to muscle and weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $420,758 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081648-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404094 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer and cachexia, or those at high risk for cachexia, may be eligible for future related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cancer or cachexia are not the target population for this specific research.
What this research studies
This NIH grant explores how the immune system’s complement pathways might drive cachexia, a severe loss of muscle and body weight that affects many cancer patients. The work uses mouse models and human tissue data to understand how complement components like C3 and the MAC might cause muscle damage and poor regeneration in the setting of pancreatic cancer. By studying tissue changes and inflammatory processes in cachectic muscles, the researchers aim to identify potential targets to prevent or lessen wasting. The study is designed to connect molecular findings to the broader muscle health problems seen in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to prevent or reduce muscle wasting in cancer patients, potentially improving treatment tolerance and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest complement involvement in tissue damage; this study builds on that by linking it to muscle wasting in cancer, with potential for translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Judge, Andrew Robert — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Judge, Andrew Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues
Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.
-
Nuclear receptors that may stop muscle wasting in cancer
This grant explores whether activating specific muscle-regulating receptors can prevent muscle loss in cancer patients.
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Stopping an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 to prevent cancer-related muscle loss
This work explores whether blocking an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 can stop or reverse the severe muscle wasting that often affects people with pancreatic cancer.
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How the liver's ketone production affects muscle loss and recovery in pancreatic cancer
This project looks at whether helping the liver make ketones can prevent muscle wasting and aid recovery for people with pancreatic cancer.
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.