Targeting Angiopoietin‑2/Tie2 to limit liver spread of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Angiopoietin-2/Tie2 signaling regulation of liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
The team is looking at whether blocking a blood‑vessel protein called Angiopoietin‑2 can reduce liver spread in people with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11211625 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists are studying how Angiopoietin‑2 and its receptor Tie2 make blood vessels leaky in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and how that helps cancer spread to the liver. In mouse models, blocking Angiopoietin‑2 reduced liver tumor growth and improved survival. The project will examine how these blood‑vessel changes keep immune cells out of tumors and make immunotherapy less effective, and test whether combining Angiopoietin‑2 blockade with immune approaches can improve outcomes. The goal is to identify strategies that could lead to new treatments to prevent or slow liver metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, especially those with existing liver metastases or at high risk for liver spread, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of pancreatic cancer or non‑neuroendocrine tumors are unlikely to benefit from Angiopoietin‑2‑targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent or slow liver metastases and make immunotherapies work better for people with PanNETs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical studies link Angiopoietin‑2 to vascular instability and reduced metastasis when blocked in animal models, but benefit in people with PanNETs has not been proven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Minah — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kim, Minah
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.