Understanding how immunotherapy works in pancreatic cancer
Official title: Mechanisms of immunotherapy response and resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11035117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some people with pancreatic cancer benefit from immunotherapy while others don’t, and it aims to find better treatment combinations that can help boost the immune system's fight against this tough cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $431,993 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA249393-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer or those who do not have pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind why some patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma respond to immunotherapy while others do not. By creating novel animal models, the team aims to study the behavior of specific immune cells that target pancreatic cancer over time. The goal is to identify effective combinations of therapies that can enhance the immune response against this aggressive cancer. Ultimately, the findings will inform the development of new treatment strategies that could be tested in clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for patients with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with immunotherapy in different cancers, but this specific approach in pancreatic cancer is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stromnes, Ingunn Margarete — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Stromnes, Ingunn Margarete
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
In vivo B7-H3 CAR-T cells for pancreatic cancer therapy
A patient-friendly look at a new approach that aims to produce CAR-T cells directly inside the body to target pancreatic cancer.
-
Novel combo therapy using oncolytic adenovirus and immune drugs for pancreatic cancer
Aims to combine an oncolytic virus with immune therapies to help shrink pancreatic tumors before surgery and keep them from coming back.
-
Combining a targeted tumor‑ablation technique with immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Seeing if pairing irreversible electroporation (a focused tumor‑destroying procedure) with immune‑boosting drugs can help people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma respond better to treatment.
-
Using electrical pulses to enhance cancer immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
This study is looking at how using electrical pulses to destroy pancreatic cancer cells, along with immune therapy, might help make the cancer more responsive to treatment and improve survival for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
-
Fibrin-rich tumor stroma as a new driver of immune response in pancreatic cancer
This grant explores how fibrin-involved tumor surroundings in pancreatic cancer might affect immune therapy, with the goal of making treatments work better for patients.
-
TREM2+ macrophages and liver metastases in pancreatic cancer
Researchers are studying immune cells in liver metastases from pancreatic cancer to understand how they influence the cancer’s spread and more effective treatments.
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.