Stopping pancreatic cancer from spreading
About Jeff Evans
Professor Jeff Evans is based at Cancer Research UK's Beatson Institute in Glasgow, where he is Professor of Translational Cancer Research. He is investigating drugs that could stop pancreatic cancer from spreading, a major problem in this disease.
Most cancer deaths are caused by the disease spreading, so finding drugs that can slow or halt this process is an important goal for cancer researchers. Professor Evans and his team are researching several new drugs that have the potential to tackle this problem in people with pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer cells contain certain overactive genes that give cells the ability to invade tissues or spread to other areas of the body. Professor Evans is researching a number of drugs that target these genes, stopping cancer cells from spreading.
The scientists are testing these drug by monitoring their effects on the movement of individual cancer cells. They are using different drug doses and timings to find how to control cancer spread.
These drugs are also currently being tested in clinical trials in patients at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. Professor Evans' research is vital to learn more about drugs that combat cancer spread and improve treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Professor Evans and his team are also running a clinical trial called FACING, which is testing a combination of cancer drugs for patients with stomach or oesophageal cancer whose tumours carry a particular gene fault.
Other research projects by Jeff Evans
CRUKD/14/008 PIONEER A Phase I study of olaparib in combination with chemo-radiation in locally advanced pancreatic cancer
CRUKD/11/003: FACING a Phase I/IIa trial of AZD4547, an FGFR inhibitor, in combination with cisplatin and capecitabine (CX) in patients with locally advanced gastro-oesophageal cancer
Funding period: 01 August 2011 to 30 April 2017
Funding period: 01 November 2007 to 30 April 2015