Imaging how the immune system interacts with pancreatic cancer to guide better treatments
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Immune Microenvironment and Treatment Response through Integrating in vivo Imaging with Immunophenotyping
This project uses live imaging and immune cell profiling to find ways to make immunotherapy work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11286845 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines advanced in vivo imaging with detailed immune cell profiling to watch how immune and myeloid cells behave inside pancreatic tumors. In lab models, researchers will track immunosuppressive myeloid cells and test yeast-derived beta-glucan particles (WGP) that can recruit and 'train' these cells, sometimes together with anti–PD-L1 therapy. Imaging data will be linked with immunophenotyping to identify which cells and signals cause treatment resistance or response. The goal is to reveal actionable targets and strategies that could later be translated into treatments for people with pancreatic cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), especially those whose tumors do not respond to current immunotherapies, would be the most relevant patients for this research.
Not a fit: Patients with non-pancreatic cancers or those who are not candidates for immunotherapy are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to reprogram the tumor immune environment so immunotherapy works better and survival improves for people with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies in mice showed yeast-derived beta-glucan particles can attract myeloid cells and slow PDAC growth, but combining this with PD-L1 blockade did not cure tumors, so the approach is promising but not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Louisville, United States
- University of Louisville — Louisville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yan, Jun — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Yan, Jun
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.