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3 Year Research Project

Life
Enhancing

York St John University

Research Project

Funded by the Three Bears Foundation and match funded by York St John University, the Three Bears Research Fellow is a three-year research project which will investigate the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer. 

Cancer associated fibroblasts make pancreatic cancer resistant to chemotherapy. What if this resistance was eliminated? The Three Bears research project takes us one step closer to finding a cure!

About the Project

About Cancer associated fibroblasts

CAFs, or Cancer associated fibroblasts are cells that make up a variable but substantial proportion of the tumour mass in pancreatic cancer and other “epithelial” cancer types such as breast cancer. CAFs can impact on the behaviour of cancer cells and previous research has shown that CAFs can actually protect cancer cells from chemotherapy, resulting in chemotherapy working less well than it should. Using additional drugs, in combination with standard chemotherapy, scientists have worked out how to stop this fibroblast-based protection.

How will it work?

The Three Bears Research Fellow will test if a combination of therapies that work in breast cancer will give improved treatment responses in pancreatic cancer.

What do we want to Achieve?

The ultimate aim of this research is to use therapeutic combinations to improve chemotherapy responses and therefore improve cancer survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.

What will it Cost?

The Three Bears Foundation has committed to co funding the research by raising £20’000 a year to fund this vital research project.

Meet the People behind the research

Three Bears Research Fellow

The research is being supervised by Professor Thomas A Hughes from The Hughes group who have recently relocated to the York St John University Medical Research Centre.

Where did the idea come from for the research?

The idea for this research came from related research that we’ve published in breast cancer. Breast cancer and pancreatic cancer are similar to each other, although a little unusual compared to other cancer types, in that the tumour mass of both includes the cancer cells but also lots and lots of other support cells, called fibroblasts.

We’ve shown in breast cancer that these fibroblasts protect the cancer cells from chemotherapy. We’ve also worked out how to stop the fibroblasts from doing this, so we should be able to make chemotherapy work better. We want to test whether this is true in pancreatic cancer as well, with the hope of making pancreatic cancer treatments more effective.

What was it about the three bears foundation that caught your eye?

Their focus on improving survival after pancreatic cancer. At the moment, the proportion of people who live even 1 year after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is really low and we desperately need better treatments.

Why personally are you interested in the project?

I’ve always wanted “to cure cancer”.  This is what I used to say I was going to do when I was 10 years old in science lessons.  Maybe this project is my chance!

Applications for the Three Bear Research Fellow have been reviewed by The Hughes Group and we are delighted to announce that Lewis Reed has been chosen as the successful candidate who will be in place by October 2024. Read more about Lewis below.

Professor of Biosciences and academic cancer biologist

Professor Thomas A Hughes

Professor Thomas A Hughes is a professor of Biosciences and academic cancer biologist with an extensive record of leading research in biomedicine.  At York St John biomedical research department, he will be leading the research project. 

“The aim of my research is to increase understanding of the biology of cancers, with a view to using these new insights to improve cancer outcomes.

The idea for this research came from related research that we’ve published in breast cancer.  breast cancer and pancreatic cancer are similar to each other, although a little unusual compared to other cancer types, in that the tumour mass of both includes the cancer cells but also lots and lots of other support cells, called fibroblasts.

We’ve shown in breast cancer that these fibroblasts protect the cancer cells from chemotherapy.  We’ve also worked out how to stop the fibroblasts from doing this, so we should be able to make chemotherapy work better.  We want to test whether this is true in pancreatic cancer as well, with the hope of making pancreatic cancer treatments more effective.”

Professor Thomas A Hughes
The Fellow

Lewis Reed

“I started out studying Veterinary Biosciences at the University of Glasgow, which involved courses covering a number of different topics such as bacteriology and parasitology, but the course that caught my attention was molecular biology of cancer, which kick started my interest in cancer. For my Bachelors dissertation I undertook a project investigating leukaemia. I then continued my studies at the University of Glasgow with a masters in Cancer Research and Precision Oncology, where I developed an interest in pancreatic cancer and undertook a lab project for my Masters dissertation investigating pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic Cancer currently doesn’t have many effective treatment options, so I’m hoping my research helps us to understand the diseases response to current treatments and help identify new ways of treating the disease. I’m really excited about this project and to continue my research!”

Lewis Reed
About

Pancreatic Cancer

Despite it being a cancer with the lowest survival rate, there is currently no known cure for pancreatic cancer.

Half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months and only 2% of the annual cancer research budget goes to improving these statistics.

The pancreas is the organ which sits between stomach and small intestine – enzymes are released to help digest food, and hormones to regulate blood sugar – basically the pancreas is the engine behind our digestive system.

It takes just one year for cancer to go from stage 1 to stage 4 with pancreatic cancer, at which point there is no cure.

The early symptoms fluctuate and are so often mistaken for other things – symptoms include stomach-ache, back pain, and pale coloured stools. Because these symptoms can also be mistaken for so many other things, diagnosis often comes too late. By the time the most obvious symptom (jaundiced skin) shows up the cancer is often too aggressive.

It is vital to fund research into early detection and treatment of this disease.

The warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, it may start to cause symptoms however they may be vague, and may come and go to begin with. This can make pancreatic cancer hard to diagnose.

  • Onset of diabetes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Jaundice
  • Pain in the abdomen or back
  • Nausea
  • Weight Loss
  • Change in stool