# Interrogating the Spatial and Functional Relevance of Microbes in Pancreatic Cancer and Metastasis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $537,985

## Abstract

Abstract/ Summary
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most aggressive malignancies,
with more than 50% of patients with pancreatic cancer presenting with metastatic disease, mainly
in the liver, at the time of diagnosis. We have previously described the presence of microbes in
pancreatic cancer which could determine outcomes. Furthermore, we revealed that microbial
modulation can affect tumor microbial composition, immune cells landscape and tumors growth.
We have now preliminary data showing microbial distribution across tumors and cellular
compartments. Moreover, we have been able to perform spatial microbial functional assessment
at regional and single cell level. We have identified similar microbes in primary tumors and
matched liver metastasis, suggesting microbial seeding from primary tumors to liver. More
evidence for this is our findings revealing that NETosis, a process of host defense against
microbes, is upregulated in liver during the metastatic process. The overall goal of this proposal
is to deeply characterize the location, distribution and spatial functionality of microbes within the
tumor microenvironment of primary tumors as well as their influence in tumors growth, pre-
metastatic niche and liver metastasis formation. To this end, we will use multiple methodologies
including state-of-the-art microbial-host imaging, regional and single cell microbial-host
sequencing to determine the location of bacteria within the cellular compartments, patterns of
distribution, functionality and species characterization together with screening culturomics (Aim
1). We will then use multiple mouse models to fully characterize the role of human PDAC microbes
in primary tumor growth, metastatic niche and liver metastasis formation by adding human-
pancreatic cancer derived microbes allowing in vivo tracking of microbial-containing cancer cells
as well as local and global microbial ablation, in vitro organoid microbial co-cultures and
assessment/modulation of NETosis to determine their role in mediating microbial effects (Aim 2).
The success of this proposal has high potential for the development of novel microbial modulation
strategies that target the tumor microenvironment which could ultimately lead to improved
outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10990419
- **Project number:** 1R01CA282786-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Florencia McAllister
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $537,985
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10990419

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10990419, Interrogating the Spatial and Functional Relevance of Microbes in Pancreatic Cancer and Metastasis (1R01CA282786-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10990419. Licensed CC0.

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