In situ cancer cell mineralization to boost radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Official title: In situ cancer cell specific biomineralization to overcome nanoparticle delivery barriers and sensitize pancreatic cancer to radiotherapy
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11381033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to help pancreatic cancer patients by using tiny gold minerals made inside cancer cells to improve radiotherapy effectiveness while sparing healthy tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $597,297 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA274415-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or those with tumors accessible to localized radiotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not uptake or respond to the mineralization strategy or who cannot tolerate radiotherapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a tough cancer to treat. Researchers will explore delivering high-atomic-number materials directly to tumor cells so radiation therapy works harder where it’s needed. The approach uses a natural process cells can perform to create gold-based minerals inside themselves, potentially boosting radiation damage to tumors without harming nearby healthy tissue. The work involves understanding how these mineral deposits form and how they affect tumor response to radiation, using models that mimic human pancreatic cancer. If successful, this could lead to more effective, localized treatment options for PDAC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective tumor control with potentially lower radiation doses to healthy organs.
How similar studies have gone: Other approaches to radiosensitization have shown promise, but this in situ biomineralization strategy is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sokolov, Konstantin V — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sokolov, Konstantin V
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-
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This study is testing a new way to make radiation therapy work better for people with pancreatic cancer by using tiny gold particles that can be delivered right to the cancer cells, helping to target the tumor more effectively while protecting healthy tissue.
-
Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer
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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.