The project
Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat. A major reason is that the tumour is surrounded by a thick, scar-like tissue called stroma. This tissue acts like a barrier: it squeezes blood vessels, blocks blood flow, and prevents medicines and immune cells from reaching the cancer.
Professor Anguraj Sadanandam and Dr Chanthirika Ragulan are testing a new approach: tiny, safe bacteria that travel through the bloodstream to find tumours. Inside, they release enzymes that soften scar tissue, making tumours less stiff and opening blood vessels so medicines and immune cells can work better.
What are they going to do?
They are testing a novel approach using tiny, safe bacteria that travel through the bloodstream to target tumours. Once inside, they release enzymes that soften and normalize scar tissue, reducing stiffness and opening blood vessels so drugs and immune cells can work better.
In early lab studies, this rapidly improved blood flow and, when combined with immunotherapy, shrank tumours and extended survival in animal models. If successful in pancreatic cancer, this could greatly enhance current treatments.
Why is this research important?
This research matters because pancreatic cancer often progresses very quickly, leaving patients with very limited options. By breaking down the physical barriers inside the tumour, we hope to give patients better access to treatments that could help them live longer and improve their quality of life.
Ultimately, this could mean more time with loved ones and a better chance of responding to therapies that currently do not work for most people.
How to get involved
The team would like individuals with lived experience of pancreatic cancer to:
Join a focus group: The team are looking for individuals to give feedback on their project via a focus group. If you are interested in joining the focus group or would like more information, please email Chanthirika (chanthirika.ragulan@icr.ac.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘RIN Ragulan involvement’.
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
