The Society supports a number of research activities covering all aspects of pancreatic disease. The Society supports at least one full time research fellow, the Amelie Waring 2 year Fellowship currently awarded to Mr John Murphy, Royal Liverpool Hospital,who is studying the "The role of intracellular second messengers and premature intracellular enzyme activation in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis"
The Society also support a number of research projects providing a number of small research grants aimed at "pump priming" research into pancreatic disease, to enable pilot work to obtain results that will subsequently support applications for completion funding to the larger awarding bodies. Applications for awards of around £5-10,000 should be forwarded via the secretary and will be considered on an individual basis by the committee. Details on how to apply may be accessed from within the members area
Currently active reaserch projects funded by the Society are:
The clinical application of radiofrequency ablation in unresectable pancreatic cancers
Logue JA, West of Scotland Pancreatic Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a widely accepted treatment option for many cancers. To date, no study has assessed patient outcomes after RFA in unresectable, but non-metastatic pancreatic cancer The primary aim is to assess the safety and efficacy of treating unresectable (and non-metastatic) pancreatic cancer with RFA. Particular attention will be paid to the incidence of post ablation complications and to the location of the pancreatic tumour. The secondary aim is to analyse any long-term benefits with RFA by calculating time to local recurrence and long-term survival. All outcome measures from this group will be compared to the group of 'borderline' patients that do have completed surgical resection.
Lymphangiogenesis and angiopoietins in pancreatic cancer
CS Verbeke, Department of Histopathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
To understand the mechanisms underlying lymphatic tumour spread, the proposal is to investigate lymphangiogenesis in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
The presence, morphology, microtopography and proliferative activity of lymphatic channels will be analysed by quantitative immunohistochemical assessment using three recently identified markers of lymphatic endothelium (LYVE-1, podoplanin and D2-40) and Ki-67 as a proliferation marker. In addition, the cellular source and level of expression of lymphangiogenic factors from the angiopoietin and VEGF families (Ang-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, VEGF-C) will be analysed, and the results will be correlated with the lymphatic vessel density and clinicopathological characteristics.
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing of Survivin in Pancreatic Cancer
Christopher Halloran, Department of Surgery, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
The protein survivin is normally expressed in embryonic and foetal tissue, but not found in adults, it is however re-expressed in many tumours, where it promotes cell division and protects against apoptosis. Thus, the effects of ‘knock-down’ of this protein by small interfering RNA molecules (SiRNA’s) in established pancreatic cancer cell lines will be investigated. In addition survivin expression will be assessed in PanIN lesions.