Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

(In collaboration with Dr. Anirban Maitra at Johns Hopkins University: Medicine, Baltimore).

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (a.k.a. pancreatic cancer) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, accounting for nearly 31,000 deaths each year. The vast majority of patients present with locally advanced or distant metastatic disease, rendering the cancer inoperable as well as beyond chemo- and radiation therapy. Therefore, it is imperative that we develop sensitive imaging strategies for diagnosing pancreatic cancer at an early, and hence potentially curative, stage. This is particularly true in individuals known to be “at risk” for developing the malignancy, such as families with an inherited predisposition to pancreatic cancer.

 

Nanoparticles containing multiple imaging probes as well as target-specific molecules have the promise of early diagnosis of cancer at both cellular and tissue levels. For this purpose, we are developing two kinds of nanoparticle platforms, (a) organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) and (b) Indium Phosphide (InP) quantum dots. These nanoparticles will be further developed for the purpose of performing a number of tasks: (1) carry probes for optical imaging, (2) carry probes for positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging, and (3) carry pancreatic cancer specific targeting molecules. Fig. 3 schematically represents such a multifunctional nanoparticle with which we aim to detect pancreatic cancer at its very onset (early detection). Advanced small-animal studies will be performed at the Johns Hopkins University: Medicine, using a biologically relevant, spontaneously metastasizing mouse model (orthotopic model) of pancreatic cancer.