How low oxygen makes pancreatic cancer cells more aggressive
Investigating hypoxia as a determinant of malignant fates in pancreas cancer
This project looks at whether low oxygen areas inside pancreatic tumors cause cancer cells to become more aggressive and resist chemotherapy, aiming to help people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294358 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
At Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, researchers will study how low oxygen (hypoxia) in pancreatic tumors changes cancer cells. They will analyze tumor tissue and lab-grown cancer cells, use genetic tools like CRISPR to turn genes on or off, and test how these changes affect growth and response to standard chemotherapy. The team will also use animal models and molecular profiling to identify metabolic changes that help cells survive in low-oxygen regions. Results are intended to point toward new targets or strategies to make existing treatments work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic cancer, especially those who can provide tumor tissue or blood samples during surgery or biopsy, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or those seeking immediate new treatment options should not expect direct or immediate benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to overcome chemotherapy resistance and lead to treatments that work better for pancreatic cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown hypoxia can drive therapy resistance in several cancers, but applying genetic and metabolic profiling to find druggable targets in pancreatic cancer is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tammela, Tuomas — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Tammela, Tuomas
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.