Understanding how the environment around pancreatic cancer tumors affects their growth
Official title: Stromal and vascular inputs into pancreatic cancer tumor neighborhoods
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10886118 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the environment around pancreatic cancer tumors, including blood vessels and certain supportive cells, affects the growth of the cancer, with the goal of finding new ways to treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $624,279 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276512-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10886118 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those with specific tumor characteristics that may respond to targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those whose pancreatic tumors do not exhibit the characteristics being studied may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), focusing on how the surrounding blood vessels and cancer-associated fibroblasts influence tumor growth and survival. By analyzing human datasets and mouse models, the researchers aim to identify specific characteristics of the TME that could be targeted for therapy. The study explores the relationship between tumor vascularity and the effectiveness of angiogenesis inhibitors, as well as the dependency of tumor cells on lipids from neighboring cells for survival in low-nutrient conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting components of the tumor microenvironment can be beneficial, but this specific approach to pancreatic cancer is innovative and not yet widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stanger, Ben Z — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Stanger, Ben Z
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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.