How pancreatic cancer and nearby stromal cells scavenge nutrients
Regulation and Function of Stromal Macropinocytosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Researchers are looking at how pancreatic cancer cells and the fibroblasts around them take up and break down proteins to survive when key nutrients are low.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187016 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies macropinocytosis, a process by which cells engulf extracellular fluid and protein to harvest amino acids. The team focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), particularly under glutamine-poor conditions. They will map the CAMKK2-AMPK and Rac1-driven actin changes that control macropinocytic uptake using cellular models and preclinical experiments. The aim is to identify molecular switches in tumor-stroma metabolism that could be targeted to cut off this nutrient source.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or those enrolled in related translational studies would be the most relevant patient group for future therapies emerging from this work.
Not a fit: Because this is preclinical mechanistic research, patients with non-pancreatic conditions or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from the grant itself.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to block a nutrient pathway that helps pancreatic tumors survive, potentially slowing tumor growth.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown macropinocytosis supplies amino acids to tumors and that glutamine stress can change macropinocytosis, but targeting stromal macropinocytosis is a more novel approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Commisso, Cosimo — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Commisso, Cosimo
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.