Finding new drugs to treat pancreatic cancer
Official title: High Throughput Screening for SCAP Inhibitors as Pancreas Cancer Therapeutics
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10866505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new treatments for pancreatic cancer by finding ways to block a protein that helps cancer cells grow, which could lead to better options for patients and improve their chances of living longer and feeling better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $316,319 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272789-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10866505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those with advanced disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new therapeutic options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly aggressive form of cancer with limited treatment options. The approach involves high throughput screening to identify inhibitors of the SCAP protein, which is crucial for cancer cell growth and survival in nutrient-poor environments. By targeting SCAP, the research aims to disrupt the lipid supply that tumors need to grow and spread. Patients may benefit from new drugs that could improve survival rates and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve survival rates for patients with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the SREBP pathway has been studied in other cancers, this specific approach targeting SCAP in pancreatic cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Espenshade, Peter J. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Espenshade, Peter J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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SPORE in Pancreas Cancer at MSK: advancing personalized therapy for pancreatic cancer
A large, multi-year program at Memorial Sloan Kettering aims to tailor pancreatic cancer treatment to each patient’s biology to improve survival and outcomes.
-
How nerves influence pancreatic cancer progression and immune response
This NIH grant tests whether nerves and nerve signals affect pancreatic cancer growth and the body’s immune response, with findings that could lead to new therapies for people with pancreatic cancer.
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Overcoming barriers in pancreatic cancer therapy
A cancer research project that explores how pancreatic tumors resist treatment and how to improve therapies by studying tumor cells and their surrounding environment in animal models.
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How low oxygen makes pancreatic cancer cells more aggressive
This project looks at whether low oxygen areas inside pancreatic tumors cause cancer cells to become more aggressive and resist chemotherapy, aiming to help people with pancreatic cancer.
-
How different dietary fats affect pancreatic cancer start and growth
This project looks at whether specific kinds of high-fat diets speed up or slow the start and growth of pancreatic cancer to help people at risk understand dietary effects.
-
Immune signals that make pancreatic cancer more stem‑like and aggressive
Looking at whether an immune signal called IL‑22, working through its receptor IL‑22RA1 and STAT3, makes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells more stem‑like and aggressive to guide future treatments for people with PDAC.
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.