How CREB changes the immune environment in pancreatic cancer
Impact of CREB-driven mechanism in shaping the tumor-immune landscape
They're testing whether blocking a protein pathway called CREB-LIF can make pancreatic cancer less able to hide from the immune system and help immunotherapy work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were involved, researchers would focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and a protein called CREB that controls another molecule called LIF. They will use lab-grown tumor cells, high-throughput sequencing of tumors, and mouse models to see how CREB and LIF change tumor-associated macrophages and T cells. The team will use genetic approaches and drugs to block CREB or LIF, then measure tumor size, immune cell activity, and response to checkpoint immunotherapy in those models. The aim is to find ways to make the tumor microenvironment less suppressive so immune-based treatments work better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those whose tumors have not responded to standard treatments, would be the most relevant candidates for future clinical work stemming from this research.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer, or whose tumors do not show CREB or LIF activity, are unlikely to benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make pancreatic tumors more responsive to immunotherapy and potentially improve outcomes for patients with PDAC.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical data from the team show that removing or blocking CREB reduces tumor burden and improves survival in mouse models, but this approach has not yet been proven in human patients.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nagathihalli, Nagaraj S. — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Nagathihalli, Nagaraj S.
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.