How mitochondrial calcium helps pancreatic cancer spread
Mitochondrial calcium signaling in pancreatic cancer metastasis and progression
The team is testing whether blocking a mitochondrial calcium pathway and its linked antioxidant system can make pancreatic cancer cells less able to spread and more likely to die.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285171 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a tiny channel in tumor cell mitochondria called the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) that helps cancer cells take up calcium. They will use lab-grown pancreatic tumor cells, genetic tools, and animal models while analyzing patient tumor data (TCGA) to see how MCU boosts cell movement and metastasis. The team identified that MCU-high tumors depend on the xCT cystine transporter for antioxidant protection, and they will test drugs or cystine restriction to trigger ferroptosis, a form of cell death, in those tumors. If these preclinical approaches succeed, they could point to new drug strategies to slow spread and help treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), especially whose tumors show high MCU or xCT expression, would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients with other cancer types, non-ductal pancreatic tumors, or tumors without MCU/xCT elevation are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal a drug target (xCT) and a way to make metastatic pancreatic tumors more vulnerable to treatment, potentially slowing spread and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting antioxidant systems and inducing ferroptosis is an emerging, promising preclinical approach but has not yet become an established treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Shengyu — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Yang, Shengyu
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.