New treatment approach for pancreatic cancer using combination therapy
Official title: Combination Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11053633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that combines a special delivery system for the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine with another drug to help your immune system fight the cancer better, aiming to make the treatment more effective and easier on your body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $472,623 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA270623-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with locally recurrent or metastatic pancreatic cancer who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer or those who have already received extensive treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel combination therapy for pancreatic cancer that aims to improve treatment efficacy while reducing toxicity. It focuses on developing a new nanoparticle carrier for the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, which enhances its delivery to tumors. The study also explores the combination of gemcitabine with another drug, PF-04136309, to boost the immune response against cancer cells. Patients may benefit from a more effective treatment option that targets pancreatic cancer more precisely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and less toxic treatment option for patients with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using nanoparticle-based therapies for cancer treatment, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Song — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Li, Song
Related research
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Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early detection of 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.