The project
ANCHOR-PDAC is a research project developing a new add-on treatment for pancreatic cancers driven by KRAS mutations. Used alongside standard care such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the approach focuses on preventing cancer cells from spreading rather than directly destroying them. By addressing the biological processes that enable tumour movement and relapse, the project aims to improve long-term disease control and offer patients renewed hope that an aggressive cancer can become a stable and potentially curable condition.
What are you going to do?
Building on very promising prior preclinical work, ANCHOR-PDAC represents the next phase of development. The project will use a stepwise preclinical strategy, starting with in vitro migration and 3D invasion assays in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer models.
Findings will then be validated in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to assess effects on tumour spread and response when used alongside standard cancer treatments.
Why is this research important?
Pancreatic cancer is often deadly because it spreads early and becomes resistant to treatment. ANCHOR-PDAC is important because it targets this spread directly. By preventing new distant metastases and stabilising existing metastatic sites, the approach aims to make aggressive disease more controllable and responsive to surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
Used alongside standard care, this strategy could support curative intent while maintaining a manageable side-effect profile, offering patients renewed hope for long-term survival.
How do I get involved?
This opportunity is open to everyone affected by pancreatic cancer. It is aimed at people living with pancreatic cancer, survivors, carers, family members, and loved ones.
The project seeks to understand how patients and their support networks view an add-on treatment designed to prevent cancer spread, including how such an approach might be understood, accepted, and embraced alongside standard therapies. All perspectives are valued, regardless of disease stage or personal experience.
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
Next steps
If you are interested in joining the focus groups or would like more information, please email Nathaniel (nathan.gokhan.yilmaz.14@ucl.ac.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘RIN Participation’.
