Understanding how pancreatic cancer cells cope with pressure
Cancer under pressure: Mechanisms of adaptation to compressive stress
This research aims to understand how pancreatic cancer cells survive under the intense physical pressure found within tumors, which could lead to new ways to fight this aggressive disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136322 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is a very difficult disease to treat, partly because most tumors have a specific genetic change called KRASG12D, and there are no effective drugs for it yet. These tumors also experience more physical pressure than other cancers, and we don't fully understand how this pressure affects them. Our team found that the KRASG12D change actually makes cancer cells softer, making them more vulnerable to this pressure, which leads to a crowded environment inside the cells. This crowding causes the cells to form 'stress granules,' which seem to help them manage the pressure by storing away certain molecules. We are now exploring if these stress granules are essential for pancreatic cancer cells to survive under these harsh conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with pancreatic cancer might eventually benefit from this foundational understanding of how their cancer cells behave under stress.
Not a fit: Patients without pancreatic cancer would not directly benefit from this specific laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover new weaknesses in pancreatic cancer cells, potentially leading to the development of new treatments that target how these cells adapt to their environment.
How similar studies have performed: This research explores novel findings regarding how pancreatic cancer cells respond to mechanical pressure, suggesting a new area for potential therapeutic intervention.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holt, Liam J — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Holt, Liam J
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.