Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

Dedicated to advancing pancreatic cancer research and providing support to patients and their families.

Donate
  • ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
    • Agi’s Story
    • About Us →
      • Mission
      • Directors/Trustees
      • Scientific Advisory Board
      • How Our Journey Began
    • News →
      • Latest News
      • Research News
      • Foundation News
      • UCLA Activity Summary Reports
      • Newsletters
      • Press Room
    • Contact
  • PANCREATIC CANCER
    • About the Pancreas →
      • The Pancreas
      • Cancer Cells
      • Risk Factors
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Staging
      • Second Opinion
    • Treatment Options →
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Targeted Therapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Alternative Treatment Options
      • Clinical Trials
    • Supportive Care →
      • Obstructions
      • Pain Control
      • Nutrition
      • Cannabis
      • Palliative Care
    • Pancreatic Cancer Facts
    • Glossary of Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • RESEARCH
    • Seed Grant Program →
      • Seed Grant Recipients
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Seed Grant News
    • UCLA Program →
      • UCLA Center for Pancreatic Diseases
      • Basic Research
      • Translational Research
      • Sahin-Toth Laboratory
      • UCLA Pancreas Tissue Bank
      • UC Pancreatic Cancer Consortium
      • Simms/Mann Psychosocial →
        • Insights into Cancer
    • American Pancreatic Association
    • NIH Funded Projects
  • PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS
    • Patient Support
    • Where to Begin
    • Caregivers & Families
    • Symposium →
      • Symposium Presentations
    • Patient & Family Webinars
    • Genetic Counseling
    • Resources →
      • NCCN Guidelines for Patients
      • Patient Support Tools
      • Create Your Health Care Team
      • Patient Health Diaries
      • Support Groups
      • Financial Aid
  • HOW YOU CAN HELP
    • Planned Giving
    • Donor-Advised Funds
    • Event Calendar
    • Get Inspired
    • Fundraising Resources
    • November Awareness Month →
      • World Pancreatic Cancer Day
    • More Ways to Give →
      • You Can Help Funds
      • Host Your Own Event
      • Shop Online Store
      • Wedding Program
      • Volunteer
      • Car Program
  • SEARCH
Home / Research / Seed Grant Program / Seed Grant Recipients / Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, PhD

Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, PhD

Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, PhD
Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, PhD
Mayo Clinic

Leveraging Metabolic Changes in PanIN Lesions for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

Overview

Aim: Early Diagnosis & Detection

Nearly half of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed only after the disease has spread beyond the pancreas, leading to grim survival rates. In contrast, patients with tumors that are still localized to the pancreas have a significantly higher survival rate of 44%. This stark difference underscores the urgent need for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer to improve survival outcomes. To address this, we propose focusing on the earliest stage at which pancreatic cells are classified as cancerous. In the progression model, abnormal cells can form low-grade lesions that are not yet cancerous and may never progress. However, once these lesions advance to high-grade lesions, the cells are considered cancerous. Therefore, our goal is to target this initial cancerous stage of high-grade lesions.

Comparing non-cancerous low-grade lesions to cancerous high-grade lesions, we will evaluate differences in how the cells use energy and detect these differences in patient blood. Using a microscope with a laser to cut out each lesion type from patient tissue samples, we were able to identify differences in gene expression. In our first aim, we will use that data to discover changes in how cells of each lesion type generate and use energy (i.e. metabolic pathways) and verify these differences by staining patient tissue samples. In our second aim, we will use the differences in lesion types to predict and detect metabolites in patient blood. Therefore, we will identify and validate biomarkers in patient blood for high-grade lesions, which are the earliest cancerous lesions. Our study will provide the foundation for developing a blood-based early detection test for patients at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Research

  • Seed Grant Program
    • Seed Grant Recipients
      • Katelyn T. Byrne, PhD
      • Julienne L. Carstens, PhD
      • Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, PhD
      • Mark Girgis, MD
      • Conan Kinsey, MD, PhD
      • Jacques Lux, PhD
      • Jimin Min, PhD
      • Somnath Pandey, PhD
      • Fredrik Ivar Thege, PhD
      • Liying Zhang, MD, PhD
  • Seed Grant News
  • UCLA Program
    • UCLA Center for Pancreatic Diseases
    • Basic Research
    • Translational Research
    • Sahin-Toth Laboratory
    • UCLA Pancreas Tissue Bank
    • UC Pancreatic Cancer Consortium
    • Psychosocial Care via Simms/Mann
      • Insights into Cancer
  • American Pancreatic Association (APA)
  • NIH Funded Projects

Patient Support Resources

from the comfort of your home


Our Webinar Library »

Never Give Up.
The journey continues with an end in sight.
Our Stories »
SUBSCRIBE
Our Free E-Newsletter
Sign up to receive information on breaking news, patient programs and upcoming events.
You can custom tailor your subscriptions and unsubscribe at any time.
  • How You Can Help
  • Make A Donation
  • Host an Event
  • Shop Online Store
  • Signature Events
  • L.A. Cancer Challenge
  • Tour De Pier
  • Hirshberg Training Team
  • More
  • News
  • Press
  • Contact

Stay Connected

Join Our E-newsletter

  • Legal and Privacy
  • Financial Information
  • Contact