PanCuRx
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Julie Wilson
Director, PanCuRx
JWilson@oicr.on.ca
PanCuRx studies pancreatic cancer to support more personalized treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
What we do
By combining science with clinical research, the program aims to match patients with treatment options that give them a better chance at living longer, healthier lives. PanCuRx engages in:
Why we do it
Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat. It spreads quickly, often without symptoms, and patients often have few effective options. PanCuRx is working to change that by helping researchers and clinicians better understand each tumour so that care can be tailored to each patient’s unique biology.
How we do it
PanCuRx combines laboratory research, clinical studies and data analysis to understand how pancreatic cancers develop and respond to treatment, helping move discoveries more quickly into patient care.
The program brings together expertise in genomics, pathology, bioinformatics, computational biology, medical oncology and clinical trials research. Patient partners also help shape PanCuRx through research planning, communications, governance, and knowledge-sharing, keeping the work grounded in patient needs and priorities.
PanCuRx works closely with teams across OICR and with partner institutions to accelerate discovery and improve care, including the Wallace McCain Centre for Pancreatic Cancer at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and other hospitals, cancer centres and research institutions across Ontario.
Key collaborators:
Collaborating institutions:
PanCuRx works closely with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s Wallace McCain Centre for Pancreatic Cancer to lead innovative clinical trials that combine patient care with advanced translational research. This close partnership helps bring laboratory discoveries into the clinic more quickly, supporting the development of new therapies and improving outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Ongoing Trials
An international trial evaluating MRI-guided radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, integrated with tumour sequencing and molecular analyses. ABLATE combines precision radiation with genomic research to support more personalized treatment to improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
A precision medicine study using patient-derived organoids and genomic profiling to test drugs and identify therapies most effective for each individual patient. ADOPT enables rapid, individualized drug testing to expand personalized therapy options and improve treatment response.
Completed Trials
A Canadian multicentre study using whole genome and RNA sequencing to better understand advanced pancreatic cancer biology and inform treatment selection. COMPASS established molecular subtypes and predictive biomarkers that underpin current precision oncology approaches and trials.
Conducted in collaboration with UHN and six institutions across North America, this international Phase II clinical trial compared standard chemotherapies for advanced pancreatic cancer while integrating genomic profiling and patient-derived organoid to study differences in tumour response. PASS-01 helped researchers better understand why patients respond differently to treatment, supporting more personalized and effective care.
A Canadian multicentre Phase II trial studying chemotherapy before and after surgery for pancreatic cancer. The trial also looked at a tumour marker called GATA6 to help identify which patients may benefit most from treatment. NeoPancONE showed that stratifying patients with biomarkers is feasible in resectable pancreatic cancer and that RNA transcriptional subtyping can meaningfully predict treatment response and survival outcomes. This can enable more precise selection of patients for perioperative chemotherapy and identify those who may benefit from alternative therapeutic strategies.
A multicentre study using whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, methylation profiling, and patient-derived organoids to better understand each person’s tumour and help guide treatment choices. Conducted with Ontario centres including UHN, London Health Sciences Centre, and The Ottawa Hospital, the study aims to expand access to more personalized care for people with pancreatic cancer.
