# Project 2: Enhancing Efficacy of Gemcitabine Nanoparticles in Pancreatic PDX Models

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $103,709

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: FULL PROJECT 2
Pancreatic Cancer (PCa) is a devastating disease for all affected. Presently, PCa is the 3rd leading cause of
cancer-related death in the U.S. The five-year overall survival rate is a dismal 7.2%. While PCa has not be
recorded as a cancer health disparity, the data is quite alarming, for example, Blacks experience a higher
prevalence of compared to their Whites. Moreover, Black men and women have the lowest overall survival
rates of PCa. Interestingly, while many cancers have demonstrated a reduction in incidence over a 5-year
period (2008-2012), the incidence and number of deaths from PCa are projected to significantly increase
among Blacks nationwide, further fingering PCa as a cancer health disparity. Additionally, although we have
seen significant improvements in overall survival for prostate, breast, and colon/rectal cancer, PCa is projected
to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030. Presently, there are no screening tests for PCa and
early diagnosis is difficult because PCa often develops without any symptoms and indications are nonspecific.
Thus there is a need, novel anticancer drug delivery that will enhance the efficacy of existing drugs, such as
Gemcitabine for use to improve PCa patient outcomes. This collaborative study proposes to investigate critical
barriers to PCa therapeutics and also define a more personalized therapeutic approach for underrepresented
minority PCa patients. We will identify molecular charateristics that help differentiate molecular signature
between pancreatic tumors among Blacks and Latinos which will allow for a more personalized approach to
targeting PCa. We plan to design and develop stearoyl-linked-Gemcitabine with surface modified anti-EGFR
antibody nanoparticles (GemEnps); evaluate GemEnps as a potential alternative chemotherapeutic agent in
the treatment of PCa orthotopic PDX pancreatic animal models based on the similarities and differences in
sequencing of pancreatic cancer genomes of Blacks, Latinos and Whites and translate knowledge of DNA
changes to clinical tools for better management of Black and Latino with PCa.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10006213
- **Project number:** 5U54CA233444-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jose G. Trevino
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $103,709
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-17 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10006213

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10006213, Project 2: Enhancing Efficacy of Gemcitabine Nanoparticles in Pancreatic PDX Models (5U54CA233444-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10006213. Licensed CC0.

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