Nicki’s Smile contributes to major research study to identify pancreatic cancer earlier

Nicki’s Smile, a fund of Pancreatic Cancer UK, is delighted to announce it is to contribute £125,000 to a research study that is aimed at identifying pancreatic cancer earlier.

The study, led by Dr David Tuveson MD, PhD, will include a focus on pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer and has two aims. The first is to create a model that can produce circulating blood proteins similar to CA19-9, which is the main tumour marker used in the clinical management of patients with pancreatic cancer. The second is to use this model to look for novel diagnostic biomarkers. The overall goal is develop these biomarkers as a test for pancreatic cancer detection and treatment monitoring.

The proposal for this research was peer reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Board and has been rated as internationally competitive or higher.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with Professor Martyn Caplin, who was Nicki’s consultant. He holds the position of consultant in gastroenterology and hepatobiliary medicine and lead neuroendocrine clinician at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The work will commence in August and will be based at Professor Tuveson’s new laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor, New York with close links to the team staying in Cambridge who are completing the first part of the work.

Dan Blake, comments, “I am thrilled that Nicki’s Smile has been able to fund a pioneering early diagnosis research project. Our aim is to improve the awful pancreatic cancer survival statistics and the key to this is innovative early diagnosis research. I am also delighted that Nicki’s consultant, Professor Martyn Caplin, will be involved to provide his invaluable input on neuroendocrine tumours.”

Alex Ford, Chief Executive, Pancreatic Cancer UK, adds, “I am delighted we have been able to finalise this grant, which is in line with the objectives of the Nicki’s Smile fund and provides us with a very effective blueprint for any international grants we award in the future.”

This grant demonstrates our commitment to funding the best quality research across the world. Although Professor Tuveson is based in the US, the results will be of benefit to all patients whether in the UK or elsewhere. This could provide a great step forward in driving early detection and therefore potentially improved prognosis and treatment.