Understanding the PAK and the PI3K pathway in pancreatic cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the PAK-PI3K signalling nexus promote pancreatic cancer tissue invasion?
IRAS ID
194304
Contact name
Debashis Sarker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease for which there are currently no effective treatments. Whilst many cancers can now benefit from 'personalised therapy', targeted drugs have failed to improve the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Using a novel technique called 'next generation sequencing' , we will be able to identify the building blocks of the cancer tissue and compare this with normal tissue. This can help understand why pancreatic cancers develop and also highlight new targets that can guide cancer drug development.
In particular, we are interested in a gene called PAK4 which makes a protein of the same name. This protein seems to be present at a higher level in cancer cells compared to normal cells. There is a suggestion that higher levels of this protein could correspond to worse survival. We will see if there are any genetic changes to PAK4. once these changes are found, they will be recreated in the laboratory to further our cancer research.
In addition, staining of tissue will allow us to see whether deeper PAK4 staining (which equates to higher levels of the protein) is linked to patient survival.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0479
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion