Personalized timing-based treatments for pancreatic cancer

Development of a precision medicine platform for circadian based therapeutics in pancreatic cancer

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · NIH-10908362

This project grows mini-tumors from small biopsies to find personalized drug choices and the best time-of-day to give them for people with pancreatic cancer.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10908362 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you have pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, doctors would use routine endoscopic biopsy tissue to grow patient-derived organoids (mini-tumors) in the lab. Researchers will test different chemotherapy and targeted drugs on those organoids and examine how drug effects change with circadian (time-of-day) conditions. The team will combine molecular profiling and drug-response data to build a precision platform that links tumor biology and timing to treatment choices. Results aim to guide more personalized treatment plans based on each patient’s tumor behavior.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who can provide tissue via routine endoscopic biopsy and receive care at or near the study center are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who cannot provide biopsy tissue, have very rapidly progressing disease that prevents organoid creation, or have cancers other than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are unlikely to benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose drugs and the best timing to give them, potentially improving effectiveness and reducing side effects for pancreatic cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Patient-derived organoids have previously predicted clinical drug responses in other settings, while applying circadian-timed therapies to pancreatic cancer is a newer and less-tested approach.

Where this research is happening

HOUSTON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Breast Cancer, Cancer Cause, Cancer Etiology, Cancers

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.