How collagen fibers and fragments change pancreatic cancer growth and metabolism
Collagen fibers and fragments regulate pancreatic cancer metabolism and growth
This project looks at how intact versus broken collagen in tumors changes pancreatic cancer growth and energy use to help guide future treatments for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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-11322604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Pancreatic tumors are surrounded by a dense, scar-like stroma made largely of collagen that can influence how cancer cells behave. Researchers compare intact collagen fibers to collagen fragments produced by enzymes to see how each type alters cancer cell metabolism, mitochondrial function, and growth. They use lab-grown culture systems, animal models, and tumor samples from patients to track how a collagen receptor called DDR1 responds differently to intact versus cleaved collagen. The team aims to identify mechanisms that could become treatment targets or markers to predict patient outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those undergoing surgery or biopsy who can provide tumor tissue or consent to use of their clinical samples.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not rely on collagen-driven pathways are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatment targets or biomarkers to improve therapies and outcome predictions for people with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have suggested collagen fragments can alter tumor behavior, but turning these findings into human therapies remains largely untested and novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Karin, Michael
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.