How pancreatic cancer starts and which pancreatic cells it comes from
Project 1: Elucidating the genetics and cell of origin of pancreatic cancer initiation
This project looks at which pancreatic cell types and genetic changes cause pancreatic cancer to help people at risk get earlier detection and better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171446 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one faces pancreatic cancer, this project looks at the earliest changes that cause the disease by using mouse models with the same gene changes found in people (like KRAS mutations and loss of p53). It focuses on whether acinar cells can turn into ductal-like cells through acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, a process linked to chronic pancreatitis, and how that leads to precancerous PanIN lesions and cancer. Researchers compare tumors that come from different cell types and relate those mouse findings to human tumor genome data to understand classical versus basal-like tumor subtypes. The goal is to reveal early signals and genetic drivers that could point to new screening tests or more targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic cancer, those at high risk (for example due to chronic pancreatitis or a family history), or patients willing to donate tumor tissue or genomic data would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic disease or risk factors are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic-science project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection methods and therapies tailored to the tumor's cell of origin and genetic profile.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse and human genomic studies have linked KRAS and p53 to pancreatic cancer and shown acinar-to-ductal changes, but translating these findings into reliable early detection or treatments for people remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Attardi, Laura D — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Attardi, Laura D
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.