The majority of pancreatic cancer patients will present with metastatic disease. The protein called integrin αvβ6 is significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer, including in metastases. αvβ6 is a particularly attractive target for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Certain peptides have been shown to be promising for treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumors and castration-resistant prostate cancer. Team researchers have developed a radiolabeled peptide for use in PET imaging, and with this new agent have been able to successfully create images of metastases of pancreatic cancers. They now aim to further develop this peptide for research and clinical uses.

The team performed preclinical testing including in vivo imaging and assessment of therapeutic efficacy in murine models of pancreatic cancer, toxicology studies, preparation of chemistry manufacturing, control documentation. The team will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 177Lu-αvβ6-BP therapy in its first-in-human study. The team’s ability to visualize the disease with 68Ga-αvβ6-BP will provide a patient-centered approach to identify only those patients likely to benefit from the 177Lu-αvβ6-BP treatment. By the end of the Round 2 grant term, the Team aims to have identified the most effective dose of the 177Lu-αvβ6-BP therapy and initiate a multi-site Phase II trial,in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

This team is part of the Pancreatic Cancer Collective, an initiative of the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research and Stand Up To Cancer.