How collagen affects cancer growth and immune response in pancreatic cancer
Official title: Regulation of PDAC metabolism and immunity by collagen and its cleavage products
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11229316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how collagen affects the way pancreatic cancer cells behave and how the body’s immune system responds, using a special model that simulates the tumor environment to find new ways to treat patients with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $110,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA274295-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11229316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma, particularly those experiencing perineural invasion.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how collagen and its breakdown products influence the metabolism and immune response in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC). By developing a novel microphysiological model that mimics the tumor environment, researchers aim to understand the interactions between cancer cells, nerves, and surrounding tissues. This model will help identify new therapeutic targets and screen potential drug candidates that could improve treatment outcomes for patients with PDAC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using microphysiological models to study cancer interactions, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Karin, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting epigenomic regulators to assault pancreatic cancer replication stress
This research tests a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by blocking key epigenetic regulators during DNA replication to make cancer cells less able to cope with replication stress.
-
Neoantigen vaccines in pancreatic cancer: overcoming resistance to improve immune responses
This grant supports testing advanced neoantigen vaccines in pancreatic cancer to boost patients' immune responses and potentially improve outcomes.
-
CD11b-activating drug to make pancreatic cancer respond to immunotherapy
A study to see if a CD11b-activating drug (GB1275) can help pancreatic cancer patients respond better to immunotherapy when combined with standard chemotherapy and PD-1 blockers.
-
Targeting autophagy to treat KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer
This grant explores using approved drugs to block autophagy in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer to improve treatment outcomes.
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Reprogramming PDAC stroma by targeting blood clotting in the tumor environment
A cancer research grant aimed at turning the tough, fibrous pancreatic cancer environment into one that helps treatments work better and supports the body’s immune response.
-
Understanding paracrine signals in pancreatic cancer to improve drug delivery
A patient-focused look at how the tumor’s signaling networks affect treatment delivery in pancreatic cancer and how targeting these networks could help therapies reach tumors more effectively.
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.