What makes pancreatic cancer spread
Defining pro-metastatic drivers in the pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment
This work tries to block a harmful interaction between mutant p53 and CREB1 to keep pancreatic adenocarcinoma from becoming more aggressive in people with this cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179220 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I have pancreatic cancer and researchers are studying how a common gene change called mutant p53 helps tumors spread by interacting with a protein called CREB1. They plan to follow how that interaction turns on WNT/β‑catenin signals and causes nearby support cells (cancer‑associated fibroblasts) to reshape the tumor environment in ways that promote metastasis. The team will use lab-grown tumor cells, animal models, and analyses tied back to human tumors and samples to find targetable steps in this process. Their aim is to disrupt the mutant p53/CREB1 complex to reduce both tumor cell aggressiveness and the pro‑metastatic tumor microenvironment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly those whose tumors carry TP53 (p53) mutations or who are at high risk of metastatic disease, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with non‑adenocarcinoma pancreatic tumors or cancers that lack p53 mutations may be less likely to benefit from this specific strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that limit metastasis and improve outcomes for people with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches targeting p53-driven signaling and the WNT/β‑catenin pathway have shown promise in preclinical models, but directly targeting the mutant p53/CREB1 interaction is a newer, less‑tested strategy in patients.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Michael Paul — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Kim, Michael Paul
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.