Project title: Investigating GLP-1 receptor as a novel prognostic and therapeutic biomarker for pancreas NETs
Tiane Chen, MD, PhD, MSc Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Status: Active
- Year(s): 2025
- Grant Type: Pilot
- Primary Tumor Site: Pancreas
- Area of Inquiry: Biomarkers
What critical neuroendocrine cancer problem/question will researchers try to answer?
This project aims to determine whether the presence or absence of the protein GLP-1R influences how quickly a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET) grows or spreads, and whether the protein can be used as a biomarker in the clinic.
Why is this important?
GLP-1R serves as the docking site for the natural hormone GLP-1. Weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are GLP-1 receptor agonists. Understanding their impact on neuroendocrine tumors is important, given the widespread use of these medications. Assessing GLP-1R expression is essential for stratifying patient prognosis and enabling personalized treatment strategies tailored to the unique molecular profiles of individuals with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs).
What will the researchers do?
By analyzing a large number of patient cases, the researchers aim to learn whether the presence or absence of GLP-1R is linked to the aggressiveness of a tumor and whether the disease is likely to return or spread. In addition, the team will build special sample collections to allow future scientists to compare tumors with and without GLP-1R. The team’s primary goal is to develop a reliable test to measure GLP-1R in patient tumor samples, enabling doctors to utilize this marker in routine medical practice.
How might this improve the treatment of neuroendocrine cancer?
If proven reliable, GLP-1R could serve as a valuable biomarker to help predict patient outcomes and guide treatment choices. It may also point to new targeted therapies, since drugs that act on GLP-1R are already available for other conditions. This work could lead to more personalized treatment strategies and new discoveries that improve survival and quality of life for PanNET patients.
Additional Details
- City: Baltimore
- State: MD
- Country: USA
- Grant Duration: 1 year
DISCLAIMER
NETRF funds laboratory research to understand the development of neuroendocrine tumors and translational research to explore new concepts in treatment. Research grant descriptions and research updates from NETRF are not intended to serve as medical advice. It can take years for research discoveries to be fully validated and approved for patient care. Always consult your health care providers about your treatment options.