Nanoparticles that break tumor barriers and boost the immune response in pancreatic cancer
Stroma penetrating and immune modulating nanoparticles for image-guided therapy of pancreatic cancer
Special nanoparticles carry chemotherapy and immune‑blocking drugs into pancreatic tumors to help people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11212244 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you had pancreatic cancer, this work aims to deliver chemotherapy plus a PD‑L1 blocker directly into your tumor using tiny particles that can cut through the tumor's dense stroma and be seen on MRI. The nanoparticles are designed to carry drugs (like doxorubicin or SN38) and a tumor‑penetrating ligand so they move past barriers that normally block medicines. In lab tests and in patient‑derived tumor models and mouse models, these particles improved drug delivery, tumor control, and immune cell infiltration. The long‑term goal is to move this approach into treatments that can be given and imaged in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diagnosed pancreatic cancer—particularly those with locally advanced or metastatic disease and who are eligible for early‑phase nanoparticle or immunotherapy trials—would be the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer, those with tumors not accessible to this delivery method, or individuals who cannot undergo MRI or who have contraindications to the nanoparticle components may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let more drug and immune cells reach pancreatic tumors, improving tumor shrinkage and the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle and tumor‑penetrating approaches have shown promising results in animal studies and patient‑derived tumor models but are not yet proven in human clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Lily — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Lily
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.