Protein-folding stress in tumor-supporting fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the function of cancer associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer
This research tests whether lowering protein-folding stress in fibroblasts can make pancreatic tumors less suppressive and help immune cells fight pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260230 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will grow fibroblasts from pancreatic tumors and normal tissue in 3D cultures and treat them with drugs that reduce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to see how the cells change. They will measure the proteins and signals the fibroblasts release and observe whether CD8+ T immune cells can proliferate and attack cancer more effectively. Promising approaches will be tested in mouse models of pancreatic cancer to see if modulating, rather than removing, fibroblasts slows tumor growth and improves immune responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who could donate tumor tissue during surgery or who may enroll in future trials testing fibroblast-targeting therapies.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer or those who cannot undergo tissue donation or immune-based treatments would be unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reprogram tumor-supporting fibroblasts to reduce immunosuppression and improve immune-based therapies for pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and early mouse experiments suggest blocking ER stress pathways in fibroblasts can reduce immunosuppressive signals and help CD8+ T cells, but clinical benefit remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barbosa Vendramini Costa, Débora — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Barbosa Vendramini Costa, Débora
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.