Using modified immune cells to treat advanced pancreatic cancer
Official title: Leveraging CD26high Meso-CAR T cells in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11019745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new CAR T cell therapy for people with advanced pancreatic cancer, using special T cells that might work better to fight the cancer, and it aims to see how well this treatment can boost the body's immune response against tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $638,929 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA287866-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have not responded to standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer or those who do not have pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of CAR T cell therapy specifically for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. It utilizes a unique subset of T cells that express a molecule called CD26, which may enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. The approach includes an innovative method to expand these T cells using a drug that helps maintain their potency and ability to attack cancer cells. By testing this therapy in animal models, the researchers aim to improve the immune response against pancreatic tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown promise in other cancers, this specific approach targeting pancreatic cancer with CD26+ T cells is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lesinski, Gregory B. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Lesinski, Gregory B.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer
A doctor-researcher team at Northwestern University is studying how gut bacteria influence pancreatic cancer and its response to immunotherapy to find new ways to help patients.
-
Targeting aberrant enhancer landscapes in pancreatic cancer
A patient-facing look at a project that aims to understand how pancreatic cancer changes its cell identity and what that means for treatment.
-
Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer
A study to develop a blood test that uses tiny RNA signals in exosomes to detect pancreatic cancer early, aiming to help people at risk or with early disease.
-
Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
A patient-friendly look at a study using tiny blood-based RNA markers inside exosomes to catch pancreatic cancer early without invasive procedures.
-
Programmable implanted living materials to fight pancreatic cancer
A patient-facing program will explore a safe, implantable living material that delivers sequential immunotherapies directly to pancreatic tumors to help fight cancer.
-
Targeting how platelets and pancreatic cancer talk to each other
A study exploring whether blocking the interaction between platelets and pancreatic cancer cells could slow cancer growth and spread and help identify new biomarkers.
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.