Commemorating 25 years of fighting pancreatic cancer
Learn More

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
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • 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
    • 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
    • Caregivers
    • Symposium →
      • Symposium Presentations
    • Patient & Family Webinars
    • Genetic Counseling
    • Financial Aid
    • Resources →
      • Symptom Management Workbook
      • Guidelines for Patients: Pancreatic Cancer
      • Creating Your Health Care Team
      • A Virtual Advocate
      • Patient Tools
  • HOW YOU CAN HELP
    • You Can Help Funds
    • Host Your Own Event
    • Event Calendar
    • Get Inspired
    • November Awareness Month →
      • World Pancreatic Cancer Day
    • Other Ways to Give →
      • Shop Online Store
      • Wedding Program
      • Volunteer
      • Planned Giving
      • Car Program
  • SEARCH
Home / Research / Seed Grant Program / Seed Grant Recipients / Igor Astsaturov, MD, PhD

Igor Astsaturov, MD, PhD

Igor Astsaturov, M.D., Ph.D.
Igor Astsaturov, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Molecular Therapeutics

The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, PA

SCAP Regulation of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Differentiation

Overview

Aim: Molecular Therapeutics

Defects in lipid metabolism are associated with numerous pancreatic pathologies including chronic and acute pancreatitis, diabetes, and cancer. Selective pancreatic knockout of the central regulator of lipogenesis Scapf/f gene (Sterol regulatory element binding protein Cleavage-Activating Protein) with ubiquitous Pdx1-Cre promoter resulted in markedly reduced numbers of acinar cells producing digestive enzymes, whereas the insulin-secreting islets and pancreatic ducts remained intact. The SCAP/SREBP axis has never been previously implicated in control of pancreatic acinar cell differentiation.

Given the normal function of SCAP is to regulate cellular responses to dietary fats, and given that hyperlipidemia and defects in acinar cell differentiation are a major cause of pancreatic cancer, we hypothesize that SCAP signaling in acinar cells may play an important role in mediating both acinar cell homeostasis and pathogenic responses of these cells to dietary fats.

Our aim is two-fold, 1) to confirm SCAP signaling through SREBP proteins regulates normal formation of acinar cells in development and 2) to compare the transcriptional changes in acinar cells induced by SCAP or SREBP deficiency to define critical regulators of differentiation affected by SCAP loss.

Completion of this work will lend support for a new paradigm for regulation of pancreatic cell dynamics, in which cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism signal through SCAP to regulate acinar cell differentiation and may predispose to pancreatic cancer development.

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
  • Contact Us