RHAMM B and pancreatic cancer spread
Official title: Receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility isoform B (RHAMM B) in Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11369170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying RHAMM B to understand how pancreatic cancer spreads and to find new ways to stop it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $489,431 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266758-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with pancreatic cancer (PDAC or PNET) for whom metastasis is a key concern and who could potentially participate in future translational studies or trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not rely on RHAMM B signaling or who are not eligible for targeted therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer has very low survival, mainly due to its tendency to metastasize. This project investigates how the RHAMM B protein may drive cancer cells to move and invade through 3D environments, potentially leading to new therapies. By using pancreatic cancer cell lines and 3D spheroid models, the study examines RHAMM B’s role in RhoA signaling and lipid droplet formation, and tests how blocking this pathway might slow metastasis. The goal is to identify a new therapeutic target that could improve outcomes for patients with PDAC and related tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new strategies to prevent or treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest RHAMM B promotes metastasis and that targeting RhoA signaling can reverse some effects in cell models, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Du, Yi-Chieh Nancy — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Du, Yi-Chieh Nancy
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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.