Understanding how pancreatic cancer stops responding to chemotherapy and how to overcome it
Official title: Metabolic regulation of FOLFIRINOX acquired resistance in pancreatic cancer
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11421835 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why pancreatic cancer often stops responding to chemotherapy and tests new ideas to overcome that resistance in patients with this disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $202,855 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274329-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421835 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing chemotherapy or those with tumors available for analysis in research settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease biology does not involve the studied metabolic pathways or who cannot participate in genetic screening may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late and responds poorly to standard chemotherapy. The project investigates the role of cancer cell metabolism and tumor microenvironment interactions in driving acquired resistance, using human PDAC samples and models. It explores metabolic pathways and gene targets to identify potential combination therapies that could improve survival for patients with pancreatic cancer. The work involves cutting-edge approaches like CRISPR screening to find key players in resistance and tests potential interventions that could be translated to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatment combinations that help pancreatic cancer patients respond better to therapy and live longer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in PDAC show that metabolic reprogramming can influence therapy response, supporting potential gains from this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Pankaj Kumar — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Singh, Pankaj Kumar
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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.