Microbes in pancreatic cancer: where they live and how they affect spread
Official title: Interrogating the Spatial and Functional Relevance of Microbes in Pancreatic Cancer and Metastasis
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11373091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research studies how bacteria inside pancreatic tumors and liver metastases might influence cancer growth and spread, with goals that could lead to new ways to treat or manage pancreatic cancer.
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 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,622,098 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA282786-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or related liver metastases may be relevant for future translational applications or samples.
✕Less likely to help
The research itself is laboratory-based and may not directly benefit every patient in the short term.
What this research studies
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is very aggressive and often spreads to the liver. This project builds on prior work showing microbes are present in pancreatic tumors and can change the tumor’s immune environment and growth. Using advanced imaging and sequencing, the team will map where bacteria sit within tumor cells and how they interact with their surroundings. They aim to understand how these microbes influence tumor growth, the formation of metastases, and the pre-metastatic niche in the liver. The work combines cutting-edge techniques to connect microbial presence with changes in tumor biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify microbial targets or imaging markers to guide new treatments or predictive tools for pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown microbes inhabit pancreatic cancers and can influence tumor behavior, supporting potential translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcallister, Florencia — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mcallister, Florencia
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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.