Download How does pancreatic cancer develop?

Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) Individual Fellowships 2016 Recruitment Information
Principal Investigator: Professor David Tosh
Department: Biology & Biochemistry
Link to research webpage: http://www.bath.ac.uk/bio-sci/contacts/academics/david_tosh/
Short description of research area to investigate with a potential MC Fellow
(Please keep within this page):
How does pancreatic cancer develop?
The most common form of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The prognosis
for this type of cancer is dismal and is nearly uniformly fatal despite maximal treatment. Fewer than
1% of patients survive 5 years. Intriguingly, the first step in the development of this type of
pancreatic cancer involves the conversion of one type of pancreatic cell to a completely different cell
type. This switch in cell type predisposes the patient to the development of cancer. Our current
understanding of how pancreatic cancer develops is incomplete due to lack of a suitable model. We
propose to capitalise on a tissue culture model available in the lab that mimics the switch from one
pancreatic cell type (acinar) to another (ductal). Using this model we will identify the molecular and
cellular factors that predispose to cancer development. This approach may yield therapeutic targets
for treating the early disease stages.