Early changes in pancreatic precancerous lesions (PanIN)

TBEL Project 3

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11173907

This project uses 3-D imaging and genetic testing of pancreatic precancer tissue to find what makes some PanIN lesions turn into cancer so people at risk might be caught earlier.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11173907 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

From a patient's view, researchers will work with real pancreatic precursor tissue (PanIN) to map how abnormal cells grow and change. They will reconstruct the tissue in three dimensions and take samples from multiple regions to do whole-exome genetic sequencing and trace how cell clones expand. At the same time they will study nearby immune and stromal (support) cells in the same samples to look for non-genetic signals that drive progression. Combining 3-D anatomy, genetics, and the local microenvironment aims to show why some PanINs become high-grade and others do not.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have pancreatic precursor lesions (PanIN) identified during surgery or biopsy, or those undergoing care at centers that collect pancreatic tissue for research.

Not a fit: People without PanIN lesions or those with already advanced, invasive pancreatic cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify which precancerous pancreatic lesions are likely to progress and enable earlier detection or prevention efforts.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have found genetic changes in some PanINs, but combining multi-region sequencing with 3-D reconstruction and matched immune/stromal analysis is a relatively new and more comprehensive approach.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cancer Cause, Cancer Etiology

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.