Identifying the best treatment for pancreatic cancer based on tumor characteristics

Project 3: Transcriptomic subtypes, response predictions, and therapy selection

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10911134

This study is looking to help people with metastatic pancreatic cancer find the best treatment for them by figuring out the specific type of their cancer, so they can see if they might respond better to either FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-10911134 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving treatment selection for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer by identifying molecular subtypes of the disease. It aims to determine which patients are more likely to respond to specific therapies, particularly comparing FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP). By using a CLIA-approved assay called PurIST, the study will prospectively evaluate how well this classifier can guide treatment decisions. This approach seeks to match patients with the most effective first-line therapy based on their tumor's characteristics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer who are starting first-line treatment.

Not a fit: Patients with non-metastatic pancreatic cancer or those who have already received multiple lines of treatment may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment options for patients with pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using molecular subtyping to guide treatment decisions in cancer, indicating that this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Bladder CancerBreast Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.