CONQUERING KRAS IN PANCREATIC CANCER

Scientists believe that the “KRAS” growth-promoting gene is pancreatic cancer’s Achilles’ Heel: Block the gene’s function, block tumor growth. A new class of KRAS-targeting therapies are starting to become available. However, the focus of their clinical development has been in lung and colon cancer to date. Now, Conquering KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer is working quickly and collaboratively—bridging disciplines, institutions, and sectors—to test a range of KRAS inhibitors for pancreatic cancer.

DEMYSTIFYING PANCREATIC CANCER THERAPIES

Increasing evidence finds that the interaction between the malignant cells in a pancreatic tumor and the other cells of the so-called “tumor microenvironment” can help malignant cells survive chemotherapy and immunotherapy. As such, understanding the changes in the microenvironment induced by therapy is critically important to improving outcomes for patients. This project aims to deploy a suite of cutting-edge molecular analytical tools, including single-cell methods, in tumor samples from patients undergoing therapy. This work will provide an unprecedented view into the effects of these therapies and allow for optimization of new treatments and treatment combinations.