Stopping fibroblasts from feeding pancreatic cancer by targeting ANO6
Official title: Targeting anoctamin 6 to disrupt trogocytosis of cancer-associated fibroblasts
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11299527 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will try blocking a protein called ANO6 to stop nearby fibroblasts from delivering lipids to pancreatic cancer cells and help immunotherapy work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | March 7, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $642,755 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289629-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299527 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those whose tumors are resistant to immunotherapy or who can donate tumor tissue, would be the most relevant candidates for this line of research or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not rely on fibroblast-derived lipid transfer are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I had pancreatic cancer, this research would look at how nearby support cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts pass bits of membrane and lipids to tumor cells and make them harder to kill. Scientists found a protein called ANO6 that helps fibroblasts expose certain lipids and transfer them through direct cell contacts, and they plan to block ANO6 to interrupt that transfer. The team will use mouse models, human tumor samples, live imaging, and immune therapy combinations to see whether blocking ANO6 reduces tumor growth and restores immune attack. Results could lead to options where patients donate tumor tissue for study or enroll in future trials testing ANO6-targeting treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking ANO6 could cut off a key nutrient supply to pancreatic tumors and make immunotherapy more effective, potentially improving outcomes for people with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: The idea that stromal cells support tumors is supported by prior studies, but directly targeting ANO6 to block membrane/trogocytosis transfer is a novel approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
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Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Astsaturov, Igor — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Astsaturov, Igor
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.