Grant: Project Grant

Pancreatic cancer, specifically Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada. Many individuals with PDAC also experience comorbid conditions like hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, leading to elevated insulin levels in the body. There is growing evidence that increased insulin can make PDAC more aggressive and faster-growing. In addition, insulin acts in cells to stimulate cell programs that are associated with resistance to current treatments, as well as new tumour treatments expected to revolutionize care for patients with PDAC. Current clinical practice does not consider a patients' insulin, nor glucose, levels during treatment unless it impedes their ability to receive treatment. Thus, it is important to understand how different levels of insulin and glucose in patients affect tumour growth and its response to treatment. Our research team has a unique opportunity to address this issue. We have access to clinically relevant patient-derived tumour cells, along with cutting-edge techniques for growing and studying these tumours in the dish and in mice under different insulin and glucose conditions. In addition, because our laboratories are experts in modeling PDAC and metabolic disease, we bring unique perspectives and skills sets to understanding the intersection of these two aspects of human health. Our proposed project aims to improve the current understanding of the interaction between insulin, glucose, and PDAC and if successful will provide the scientific rationale for controlling insulin and glucose levels during treatment.