Understanding how heavy ion therapy affects pancreatic tumors

Linear energy transfer (LET) dependencies for understanding pancreatic tumor control and relevant molecular endpoints in support of RBE-based heavy-ion radiotherapy

NIH-funded research Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11004604

This study is looking at how a special type of radiation therapy, called heavy ion radiotherapy, can help treat pancreatic cancer, and it aims to find better ways to make this treatment work even better for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11004604 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effects of heavy ion radiotherapy on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) using specialized mouse models and advanced imaging techniques. The team aims to understand how the energy transfer from heavy ions influences tumor control and the molecular responses involved. By combining heavy ion therapy with pharmacological agents that induce cell death, the study seeks to enhance treatment effectiveness against pancreatic cancer. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may be seeking innovative treatment options.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer or those not diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results with heavy ion therapy in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions advanced pancreatic canceranti-canceranti-cancer researchcancer research
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.