How aging makes the pancreas more likely to fuel pancreatic cancer
The Aging Pancreas as a Pro-tumorigenic Niche
Researchers are looking at how an older pancreas creates conditions that let pancreatic cancer grow, especially in people over 60.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173764 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses specialized mouse models to compare pancreatic tumor growth in young versus old animals. The team measures tumor size, spread (metastasis), and examines differences in immune cells and the scar-like stromal tissue inside tumors. Early results show faster tumor growth, more metastases, and increased desmoplasia in older animals. The researchers aim to identify the specific age-related changes in stromal and immune cells that help tumors grow.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People over 60, or those with strong risk factors or family history for pancreatic cancer, would be most relevant to this line of research.
Not a fit: Younger patients under 40 or people with cancers unrelated to the pancreas are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal age-related changes that lead to new ways to prevent or treat pancreatic cancer in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Some animal studies have linked aging to worse tumor behavior, but focused work on the aged pancreatic microenvironment is relatively new and still emerging.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Commisso, Cosimo — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Commisso, Cosimo
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.