Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded Columbia University's Health Sciences Division a $683,970 Project Grant under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This award supports research on tumor-penetrating stromal modification of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) through investigation of the αvβ5 integrin pathway. The project focuses on developing and evaluating the IRGD tumor-penetrating peptide as a therapeutic approach to modify the pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment by inhibiting αvβ5-mediated transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) activation. Research activities include preclinical studies demonstrating that IRGD treatment reduces desmoplastic and immunosuppressive features of PDAC, improves tumor perfusion, increases CD8+ T cell infiltration, decreases stromal fibers, and reduces metastatic progression in mouse models.

The funded research advances understanding of how IRGD preferentially depletes regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing the αvβ5 integrin while expanding anti-tumor CD8+ T cell populations, thereby sensitizing PDAC to anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy. Beyond its acute vascular permeability-enhancing properties, IRGD demonstrates chronic tumor microenvironment modification that may potentiate combination therapeutic approaches. These research deliverables support the Cancer Treatment Research program's objective to develop improved cancer treatment methods through discovery, development, and clinical testing of novel therapeutic modalities, with findings expected to inform ongoing clinical trials evaluating IRGD safety and efficacy in pancreatic cancer patients.