UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Associate Professor J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, has been awarded a $946,000 grant from the American Cancer Society. The Research Scholar Grant is designated for his project on "Therapeutic modulation of calreticulin in pancreatic adenocarcinoma."

Research Focus

In collaboration with Benjamin Larimer, Ph.D., and Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., Rose is focusing on calreticulin (CALR), a protein that can migrate to the surface of tumor cells in response to certain drugs. This project opens new avenues for diagnostic and treatment strategies. The research team, which includes Suzanne Lapi, Ph.D., and Jonathan McConathy, M.D., Ph.D, from UAB Radiology, is developing advanced approaches for diagnostics and therapeutic applications that target CALR.

With the support of the American Cancer Society grant, the team aims to leverage CALR surface migration as a strategic advantage to enhance survival rates and treatment efficacy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. By utilizing tailored molecules for PET imaging, they aim to improve tumor mapping.

Once CALR is detected on the cancer cell surface, specific therapies can be directed at these cells to eliminate the cancer effectively. The ultimate goal is to not only improve therapy for pancreatic cancer but also to develop strategies applicable to a variety of other cancer types.

"Our research into calreticulin could transform targeted cancer therapies, especially for difficult-to-treat tumors like those found in pancreatic cancer," stated Rose.

Research Team

The research team comprises a diverse group of scientists, including key collaborators such as Craig Thomas, Ph.D, from the National Institutes of Health, as well as contributing postdoctoral fellows Lucinda Hall, Ph.D., and Yuvasri Golivi, M.S., from UAB Surgery.