How HIF2 in pancreatic tumor-supporting cells affects cancer growth
Official title: The Role of HIF2 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11248738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether blocking a low-oxygen protein called HIF2 in the supportive fibroblast cells around pancreatic tumors can slow tumor growth and help people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $572,667 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269565-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those whose tumors have dense, hypoxic stroma, are the likely candidates to benefit from this research direction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pancreatic cancer or those whose tumors lack a dense, hypoxic stromal component are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Researchers use genetically engineered mice that let them switch off HIF2 only in the cancer-associated fibroblasts (the cells that make the tumor’s dense stroma) while tumors develop, then measure tumor growth and animal survival. They examine immune cell changes inside the tumors and run lab assays using factors released by hypoxic fibroblasts to see how those signals affect immune cells. Early mouse results showed that removing HIF2 in fibroblasts reduced tumor growth, lowered immunosuppressive macrophages and regulatory T cells, and doubled median survival. The team will probe the mechanisms and test whether targeting stromal HIF2 could improve responses to other therapies like immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that target the tumor stroma to slow pancreatic cancer and make other therapies more effective.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse data from this project showed promising results when HIF2 was deleted in fibroblasts, and targeting stromal hypoxia is an emerging but still experimental strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koong, Albert — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Koong, Albert
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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.