How the body's environment drives weight and muscle loss in pancreatic cancer
Official title: The role of the macroenvironment in pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11144575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if targeting inflammatory signals around pancreatic tumors can reduce severe weight and muscle loss in people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,855,958 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA236778-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those losing weight or at high risk of cachexia, would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer who are not experiencing cachexia or those without pancreatic disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
What this research studies
This program aims to understand why pancreatic cancer causes severe weight and muscle loss (cachexia) by studying inflammation and signaling that affect the whole body. The team focuses on the NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and uses three linked research projects supported by shared laboratory cores to study tumor and peripheral tissues. Researchers will combine laboratory experiments with patient-related samples and data to find signals that cause wasting and identify points to block that process. The goal is to point toward treatments that protect fat and muscle while patients receive cancer therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that preserve weight and muscle in pancreatic cancer patients, improving quality of life and possibly survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked IL-6/STAT3 and NF-κB signaling to cancer wasting, but this integrated focus on the whole-body "macroenvironment" in pancreatic cancer is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guttridge, Denis C — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Guttridge, Denis C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How the liver's ketone production affects muscle loss and recovery in pancreatic cancer
This project looks at whether helping the liver make ketones can prevent muscle wasting and aid recovery for people with pancreatic cancer.
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Stopping muscle wasting in pancreatic cancer-related cachexia
Testing ways to block a cell-signaling pathway to help people with pancreatic cancer who are losing muscle and weight.
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Understanding how liver metabolism affects muscle loss in pancreatic cancer patients
This study is looking at how liver function affects weight loss and muscle wasting in people with pancreatic cancer, hoping to find new ways to help improve their health and quality of life.
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Understanding how cancer affects muscle loss and weight in patients
This study is looking into why some cancer patients, especially those with pancreatic cancer, lose a lot of weight and how we can find better ways to help them manage this issue, so if you join, you could help us learn more about improving health during treatment.
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Understanding how the environment affects weight loss in pancreatic cancer patients
This study is looking into why some cancer patients, especially those with pancreatic cancer, experience severe weight loss and aims to find new ways to help them feel better and maintain their weight.
-
Understanding how liver metabolism affects weight loss in pancreatic cancer patients
This study is looking at how pancreatic cancer causes severe weight loss and is trying to find ways to change liver function to help patients keep their weight and feel better.
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.