Using a PARP-blocking drug plus radiation to help pancreatic tumors respond to immunotherapy
Project 1: Combining PARP inhibition with radiation to sensitize HR proficient pancreatic cancers to immunotherapy
This work will see if adding a PARP inhibitor to radiation can help immunotherapy work better for people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180410 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are combining a PARP inhibitor drug with targeted radiation to make pancreatic tumors more visible to your immune system. In lab models they will measure immune signals (like type I interferon) and how tumors attract cancer-fighting T cells after the combo treatment. The team plans to translate the best findings into a clinical approach that pairs olaparib, radiation, and the checkpoint drug durvalumab for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The project includes experiments to understand why the combination works and to guide a future clinical trial at the institution.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with locally advanced (unresectable) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are medically able to receive radiation and systemic therapy would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with widespread metastatic disease, very poor overall health, or tumors that lack the specific DNA-repair features targeted by PARP inhibitors may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immunotherapy effective for more people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, potentially shrinking tumors and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work and some early clinical findings support that PARP inhibitors can enhance radiation effects and immune responses, but combining olaparib, radiation, and PD-L1/PD-1 blockade in pancreatic cancer remains largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morgan, Meredith a — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Morgan, Meredith a
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.