Nucleic acid scavengers to slow pancreatic cancer spread during therapy
Official title: Utilizing nucleic acid scavengers to elucidate how DNA/RNA-containing DAMPs promote pancreatic cancer metastasis and to mitigate such processes
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11331985 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a new approach that uses special molecules to soak up DNA/RNA fragments released during pancreatic cancer treatment to help prevent cancer spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,221 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283740-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331985 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy or surgical treatment who could be eligible for future translational studies of NAS therapy.
✕Less likely to help
The approach is specific to pancreatic cancer and its treatment context; not all patients or cancer types may benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Duke University are developing nucleic acid binding polymers to remove extracellular nucleic acid–containing inflammatory signals that can drive cancer cells to migrate and metastasize during chemotherapy or surgery. The idea is to safely give these scavengers alongside standard pancreatic cancer treatment to reduce proinflammatory signals and limit metastasis. The work builds on animal studies showing reduced liver metastases and lower circulating DNA fragments when NASs are used. If successful, this could translate into therapies that make existing treatments more effective at keeping cancer from spreading.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with pancreatic cancer could experience less metastasis during treatment, potentially improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in animal models suggest NAS therapy can reduce metastasis and inflammation, supporting potential benefit in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullenger, Bruce Alan — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Sullenger, Bruce Alan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Camk2b loss fuels pancreatic cancer spread and immune suppression
A new NIH grant seeks to understand why losing CAMK2B in pancreatic cancer makes the cancer spread more and suppresses immune responses, using advanced mouse models.
-
Cystine-limited stress and pancreatic cancer growth and spread
Aims to understand how pancreatic cancer cells survive when the nutrient cystine is scarce and to find weak spots that could be targeted to slow or stop tumor growth and spread.
-
Anti-MUC16 antibody combo to fight metastatic pancreatic cancer
A new antibody-based treatment added to standard chemotherapy is being tested to slow or stop the spread of pancreatic cancer in preclinical models.
-
Understanding what drives metastasis in pancreatic cancer
A researcher at a top cancer center is studying why pancreatic cancer spreads, aiming to identify key factors that could be targeted to stop metastasis.
-
Microbes in pancreatic cancer: where they live and how they affect spread
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.
-
RHAMM B and pancreatic cancer spread
Researchers are studying RHAMM B to understand how pancreatic cancer spreads and to find new ways to stop it.
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.