Current research into pancreatic cancer

In Glasgow, one of Professor Jennifer Morton's projects is investigating whether pancreatic tumours release biological signals, called biomarkers, into the blood. She aims to identify which specific molecules are released into the blood by the cancer and how this varies. She will then look to see whether these same molecules can be found in blood samples from people with pancreatic cancer with the hope to create a blood test that could be offered to people at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

At the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, Dr Thomas MacVicar is investigating how the transport of molecules called metabolites in and out of mitochondria in pancreatic cancer cells help them to perform special reactions that allow them to survive and become resistant to treatment. By researching the role of these metabolites, we can identify new therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer treatments.

In Edinburgh, Professor Simon Wilkinson is studying a part of our cells called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER is like a factory, responsible for building proteins and storing, modifying and transporting important molecules. Prof Wilkinson wants to understand how pancreatic cancer cells might be ‘recycling’ the ER to help tumours grow and how we might disrupt it, preventing tumours from growing.