How PPARD activity helps early pancreatic lesions become pancreatic cancer
Official title: PPARD hyperactivation promotes pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia progression into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11266192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether high PPARD activity in the pancreas helps precancerous PanIN lesions progress to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in adults at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $630,530 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273732-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11266192 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with known PanINs or pancreatic cysts, people at high genetic or familial risk for pancreatic cancer, or patients able to donate pancreatic tissue or clinical samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic precancerous lesions or those with advanced, metastatic pancreatic cancer are less likely to get direct benefit from this prevention-focused work.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers use mouse models that carry the common KRAS mutation seen in human PanINs and give them high-fat or PPARD-activating diets to see if early lesions move toward cancer. They compare mice with normal PPARD to mice where PPARD is removed or overexpressed in the pancreas, and track lesion growth, cancer development, and spread. The team measures inflammatory signals and immune cells in the pancreas to understand how PPARD changes the tumor environment, and checks human pancreatic samples for PPARD activity. Findings will point toward whether blocking PPARD or changing diet might slow or stop lesion progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent precancerous pancreatic lesions from becoming cancer, possibly through lifestyle changes or drugs targeting PPARD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical studies have shown that diet and specific genetic changes can speed PanIN progression in mice, but directly targeting PPARD is a newer approach with limited clinical data so far.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shureiqi, Imad — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Shureiqi, Imad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Fibrin-rich tumor stroma as a new driver of immune response in pancreatic cancer
This grant explores how fibrin-involved tumor surroundings in pancreatic cancer might affect immune therapy, with the goal of making treatments work better for patients.
-
TREM2+ macrophages and liver metastases in pancreatic cancer
Researchers are studying immune cells in liver metastases from pancreatic cancer to understand how they influence the cancer’s spread and more effective treatments.
-
Protein S could slow pancreatic cancer and blood clots
A potential treatment study looks at restoring a natural blood protein, Protein S, to help people with pancreatic cancer by slowing tumor growth and reducing dangerous clots.
-
In vivo B7-H3 CAR-T cells for pancreatic cancer therapy
A patient-friendly look at a new approach that aims to produce CAR-T cells directly inside the body to target pancreatic cancer.
-
Metabolic changes in pancreatic cancer when treated with crisantaspase
Aims to understand how pancreatic cancer cells adapt their metabolism when treated with crisantaspase to inform better treatment strategies for patients.
-
New combination therapy for pancreatic cancer in animals
A new therapy designed to weaken the tumor’s protective surroundings and boost treatment effects in pancreatic cancer models.
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.