Why some pancreatic cancers survive radiation
Official title: Cellular phenotypic heterogeneity and resistance to radiotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11184214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether signals from certain tumor cells make other pancreatic cancer cells resistant to radiation, with the goal of helping people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 22, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $393,750 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD031864-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those considering or receiving radiotherapy, would be most relevant for future trials based on these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other tumor types or those not treated with radiation are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project looks inside pancreatic tumors to see how different cancer cells communicate and create protective niches that let some cells behave like stem cells (Lgr5+), which can survive treatment. Using pancreatic tumor cell lines and animal models, the team will track Wnt signaling and other molecular features to see which cell subsets drive radioresistance. They will test whether blocking Wnt signals or changing the tumor microenvironment reduces stem-like behavior and makes radiation more effective in those models. The findings aim to identify targets that could lead to new treatments or clinical trials to improve outcomes for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this work succeeds, it could point to new ways to boost the effect of radiotherapy and reduce treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have previously linked Wnt signaling and cancer stem cells to treatment resistance, but translating these findings into effective patient treatments has been challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pitter, Kenneth L — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Pitter, Kenneth L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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SOAT1 as a target in pancreatic cancer
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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.