Reprogramming immune cells to help fight pancreatic cancer
Official title: Re-wiring PDAC Tumor Immunity Through Dendritic Cells
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11187150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to restore and activate key immune cells called dendritic cells so people with pancreatic cancer respond better to radiation and immune treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $473,084 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262506-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those receiving or eligible for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or immunotherapy, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cancer, or those with very advanced disease who are not candidates for radiation or immune-based treatments, would likely not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers have found that a type of immune cell (conventional dendritic cells, cDCs) is dysfunctional in many people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, due both to problems in bone marrow development and to these cells being excluded from the tumor. In animal models, giving a growth factor (FLT3L) plus a CD40-activating drug helped bring cDCs back and improved tumor control when combined with radiation. The team plans to translate these findings toward people with pancreatic cancer, building on strong preclinical results. If moved into clinical testing, the approach would combine systemic immune‑priming treatments with radiation to help generate stronger tumor-specific T cell responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make radiation and immunotherapy work better against pancreatic tumors and improve tumor control.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical animal studies, including work by these investigators, showed promising results using FLT3L and CD40 with radiation, but this combination is still largely untested in people with pancreatic cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denardo, David G — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Denardo, David G
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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.