NIH-funded research R01 grant

Investigating how iron metabolism affects treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer

Official title: Targeting iron metabolism in pancreatic adenocarcinoma to overcome KRAS inhibitor therapeutic resistance

Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11162898 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how some pancreatic cancer patients become resistant to new treatments and aims to find better ways to help them by understanding how iron in the body affects cancer cells, which could lead to more effective therapies.

More Adenocarcinoma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDana-Farber Cancer Inst
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startApril 2, 2025
Project endMarch 31, 2030
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$523,480
NIH project number1R01CA301542-01
Project IDNIH-11162898 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are experiencing resistance to KRAS inhibitor therapies.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of cancer or those not undergoing KRAS inhibitor treatment may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal cancer with low survival rates. It aims to understand how resistance to KRAS inhibitors, a new type of cancer treatment, develops in patients. By exploring the relationship between iron metabolism and cancer cell survival, the study seeks to identify new combination therapies that could enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved therapeutic strategies against this aggressive cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting metabolic pathways to overcome treatment resistance in various cancers, suggesting this approach may be viable.

Where this research is happening

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Mancias, Joseph D — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
  • Study coordinator: Mancias, Joseph D

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • PASSCODE: Coordinating and Sharing PDAC stromal research data

    A networked effort at NYU School of Medicine aims to study how the pancreatic cancer stroma shapes tumor growth and patient outcomes, by coordinating researchers, sharing data, and educating the field.

    NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11413859

  • Oncostatin M Receptor in Pancreatic Cancer

    Aims to understand how a molecule called Oncostatin M and its receptor affect pancreatic cancer to find new ways to help patients.

    NIH research Portland VA Medical Center · Portland, United States · NIH-11402385

  • Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Borderline or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

    A multi-part treatment approach tests giving all chemotherapy and targeted radiotherapy before surgery to help patients with tough-to-remove pancreatic cancer become eligible for curative surgery.

    NIH research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · New York, United States · NIH-11397470

  • Low-dose, motion-aware MRI to study pancreatic cancer

    A new MRI method using low-dose contrast and motion-resolved imaging is being explored to better characterize pancreatic cancer in patients.

    NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11394353

  • SOAT1 as a target in pancreatic cancer

    Researchers are studying a specific enzyme, SOAT1, to see if blocking it can slow down or stop pancreatic cancer progression in models that mimic human disease.

    NIH research Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, United States · NIH-11360158

  • Turning inflammatory scar cells in the pancreas into helpers to improve treatment response

    This project will try to change inflammatory, scar-forming cells around pancreatic tumors so treatments and the immune system can work better for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11338560

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.