How the Oncostatin M receptor helps drive pancreatic cancer
Official title: Oncostatin M Receptor in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11118675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking the Oncostatin M receptor can slow aggressive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006305-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people living with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those with tumors that show high OSMR activity or advanced disease.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors lack OSM/OSMR activity are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers study tumor samples from people with pancreatic cancer and use laboratory models to see how Oncostatin M (OSM) and its receptor (OSMR) change cancer cells and the surrounding support cells. They will measure OSMR levels in patient tumors, manipulate OSM/OSMR signaling in cancer cells and fibroblasts, and observe effects on stem-cell behaviors, invasion, and metabolism. The team will also test whether interrupting this signaling reduces features that make tumors resistant to treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that target OSM/OSMR to slow tumor growth or make existing therapies work better.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies show OSM can promote aggressive tumor traits and poor outcomes, but directly targeting OSMR is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zimmers, Teresa a — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Zimmers, Teresa a
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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.