How low oxygen changes KDM8 to make pancreatic cancer more aggressive
Official title: Elucidation of hypoxia-induced metastatic reprogramming through the regulation of KDM8 function in pancreatic cancer
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11250139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers study whether low oxygen in pancreatic tumors keeps a protein called KDM8 from stopping cancer cells from becoming a more aggressive, treatment-resistant form for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $480,724 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285774-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250139 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma — especially those with advanced or basal-like tumors — could be candidates to contribute tumor samples or take part in related translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated cancers, very early-stage disease unlikely to need tissue-based research, or those seeking immediate treatment effects are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic/translational research.
What this research studies
Researchers will look at how hypoxia (low oxygen) in the tumor environment alters the enzyme KDM8 and drives pancreatic cancer cells toward a more aggressive 'basal-like' state. The team will use genetically engineered mouse models, human pancreatic cancer cell lines, and analyses of human tumor gene signatures to track chromatin changes and cell behavior. They will manipulate KDM8 activity to see how it affects differentiation, metastasis, and response to low-oxygen conditions. The work aims to connect tumor microenvironment changes to molecular switches that make PDAC harder to treat.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or strategies to prevent metastasis and treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown that chromatin-modifying enzymes and hypoxia affect cancer aggressiveness, but directly targeting KDM8 is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
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Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chiou, Shin-Heng — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chiou, Shin-Heng
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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.