Understanding how pancreatic cancer resists neoantigen vaccines
Official title: Project 2: Mechanisms of Resistance to Neoantigen Vaccines in PDAC
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10916347 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some people with pancreatic cancer don't respond to special vaccines that help the immune system fight cancer, and it's for patients who are interested in how these vaccines might work better for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 28, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $341,650 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA272213-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10916347 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who are undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who are not eligible for neoadjuvant therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind why some pancreatic cancer patients do not respond to neoantigen vaccines, which are designed to stimulate the immune system against cancer cells. The team has developed advanced software tools to predict neoantigens and is conducting clinical trials to test the effectiveness of these vaccines in patients. By analyzing immune responses in patients treated with these vaccines, the researchers aim to enhance the design of future therapies. The study focuses on optimizing vaccine formulations to improve immune responses in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer vaccines that improve treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with neoantigen vaccines in other cancer types, indicating potential for success in this area as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawkins, William G — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Hawkins, William G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting epigenomic regulators to assault pancreatic cancer replication stress
This research tests a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by blocking key epigenetic regulators during DNA replication to make cancer cells less able to cope with replication stress.
-
Neoantigen vaccines in pancreatic cancer: overcoming resistance to improve immune responses
This grant supports testing advanced neoantigen vaccines in pancreatic cancer to boost patients' immune responses and potentially improve outcomes.
-
CD11b-activating drug to make pancreatic cancer respond to immunotherapy
A study to see if a CD11b-activating drug (GB1275) can help pancreatic cancer patients respond better to immunotherapy when combined with standard chemotherapy and PD-1 blockers.
-
Targeting autophagy to treat KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer
This grant explores using approved drugs to block autophagy in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer to improve treatment outcomes.
-
Reprogramming PDAC stroma by targeting blood clotting in the tumor environment
A cancer research grant aimed at turning the tough, fibrous pancreatic cancer environment into one that helps treatments work better and supports the body’s immune response.
-
Understanding paracrine signals in pancreatic cancer to improve drug delivery
A patient-focused look at how the tumor’s signaling networks affect treatment delivery in pancreatic cancer and how targeting these networks could help therapies reach tumors more effectively.
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.