Understanding how immune regulation affects dormant cancer cells in pancreatic cancer.
Official title: Immune Regulation of Dormancy at the Metastatic Site
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-10928204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how some cancer cells can hide in the body after surgery for pancreatic cancer and later cause new tumors, especially in the liver, and it aims to find ways to stop this from happening by understanding how stress hormones and immune cells affect these hidden cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F99CA284292-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have undergone surgery and currently show no detectable metastases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer or those who have not undergone surgical treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the behavior of dormant cancer cells in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who have undergone surgery. It focuses on how these cells can evade the immune system and later proliferate to form metastases, particularly in the liver. Using a novel mouse model, the study examines the role of glucocorticoids, a stress hormone, in promoting the growth of these dormant cells and how immune cells interact with them. The findings aim to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new therapeutic strategies for preventing metastasis in PDAC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent the spread of pancreatic cancer after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune interactions with cancer cells can lead to significant advancements in cancer treatment, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
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State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Xiao — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Han, Xiao
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.