How body fat promotes pancreatic cancer
Contributions of the Adipose Tissue to the Development of Pancreatic Cancer
This project looks at how fat tissue and the fats it releases in people with obesity may help pancreatic cancer start, grow, or resist treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11256777 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer and remove a protein called LCN2 to see how that changes inflammation and survival. They will measure fatty acids like linoleic and arachidonic acid in blood and adipose tissue from obese people with pancreatic cancer to compare with the mouse findings. The team will study how the COX2 enzyme and lipid signals drive inflammation and tumor growth and test whether blocking COX2 or changing lipid pathways reduces cancer in their models. The goal is to link what is seen in patients with what is happening in mice to find targets that could prevent or improve therapy for pancreatic cancer in people with obesity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity who have pancreatic cancer or are at high risk and who are willing to provide blood and adipose tissue samples would be most relevant for this work.
Not a fit: People without obesity or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this preclinical and translational research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal fat-driven pathways that raise pancreatic cancer risk or treatment resistance and point to ways to prevent disease or improve therapy for patients with obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse-based work from this group showed that deleting LCN2 or inhibiting COX2 can reduce inflammation and pancreatic cancer in obese models, but translating those findings to people remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cruz-Monserrate, Zobeida — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Cruz-Monserrate, Zobeida
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.