Project title: Multimodal Assessment of Dynamic Biological Behavior of Pancreatic Cancer [DYOPAC]

Project Director: Conf. univ. dr. Ungureanu Bogdan Silviu

Project Duration: 03.01.2025-31.12.2026

Total Budget: 500.000 lei

Abstract: The DYOPAC project embraces the path of uncovering specific imaging and biological markers for the dynamic behavior of pancreatic cancer (PC) by using state-of-the-art procedures. The endeavor of combining Endoscopic Ultrasound techniques and Confocal Endomicroscopy as non-invasive methods of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) may provide a more rapid and efficient predictive response to therapeutic management. A multimodality characterization of CAFs would be useful in PDAC disease upgrading and response to novel therapies. The current project proposal provides several unique features for PDAC assessment. Firstly, it provides a longitudinal evaluation of PDAC patients by including Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-EUS, and Elastography-EUS with specific software denominators directly compared with immunohistochemistry biomarkers to predict tumor evolution. Secondly, reverse-translational molecular assessment of the tumor microenvironment CAFs by targeted imaging along with IHC and molecular biology techniques will provide new clinical models and an understanding on how disease evolves. The final objective will be to develop a specific framework for tumor dynamic biologic behavior which will consist of different biomarkers to have a better prediction of PDAC prognosis and response to therapy.