2025 New Treatment Accelerator - Prof John Hooper

This project will test in 12 pancreatic cancer patients, a new way to detect their cancer  that will also select which of those patients could go onto have a new treatment for  pancreatic cancer. For testing in patients, we have made a new bio-molecule that binds  very strongly and specifically to the surface of pancreatic cancer cells. When we test  this bio-molecule in people who have pancreatic cancer, we will link it to a low-energy  radioactive particle. Injected into the bloodstream of the patient, the radioactive bio molecule will circulate until it binds to the surface of pancreatic cancer cells. The  radiation that it then emits will be detectable using a PET scanner allowing  determination of the exact location of the patient's pancreatic cancer, including  whether it is confined to the pancreas, and can be surgically removed, or whether it has  spread to other parts of the body and therefore must be treated using other approaches. 

For patients whose cancer has spread, we have designed the bio-molecule so that with  a small change it can also be used as a treatment. For this type of treatment, rather  than linking the bio-molecule with a low-energy radioactive particle, we would link it  with either a high-energy radioactive particle or a drug. Radiation emitted by the high energy radioactive particle or alternatively the toxicity of the drug, will act as an effective  treatment and eliminate the pancreatic cancer cells. 

In summary, we are developing a two-step process that in the first phase detects  pancreatic cancer, and in the second phase, treats those patients who have high  enough signal from their PET scan. The current project will test how well the first phase  works in 12 pancreatic cancer patients. If it works well, the results will justify us  conducting another trial to evaluate the second phase, examining whether the bio-molecule, linked to a high-energy radioactive particle or a drug, is an effective treatment  for pancreatic cancer. 

We also propose that our two-step process will be useful for early detection of  pancreatic cancer and will contribute to patients having a greater chance of surviving  their cancer, because they will receive treatment earlier. In addition, the process will be  useful for selection of patients who have advanced pancreatic cancer, who will be able  to be treated with the bio-molecule linked to a high-energy radioactive particle or a  drug.