As Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month commences, innovative technology developed in a lab at the University of Wollongong aims to enhance treatment options for patients facing this aggressive disease. With nearly 5,000 individuals anticipated to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Australia this year, the need for improved therapies is urgent.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow describes the device, named ResectAssist, as slightly larger than a grain of rice and smaller than a Tic-Tac. This revolutionary tool is designed to be implanted directly into or near a pancreatic tumor, where it will release medication to reduce the tumor size, potentially making surgical intervention possible.
According to Prof Vine-Perrow, many patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer do not qualify for surgical options due to the disease”s complex nature and late-stage identification. In the Illawarra region, about 220 deaths from pancreatic cancer were recorded between 2018 and 2022, indicating its severe impact on local health.
“Patients often receive a diagnosis too late, resulting in tumors that are too advanced for surgical removal,” Prof Vine-Perrow explained. “Additionally, pancreatic tumors create a unique microenvironment filled with fibrotic tissue that hampers the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy.” This dense tissue not only restricts drug penetration but also compresses surrounding blood vessels, leading to an immunosuppressive environment that conceals cancer cells from the immune system.
In light of these challenges, the research team has devised a drug-loaded implant that can effectively bypass these barriers. “Our approach allows us to directly implant these devices into the tumor, delivering high concentrations of medication precisely where needed,” she stated. This method is expected to minimize systemic exposure to toxic drugs, thereby reducing side effects.
The implants are crafted from polymers and a tailored blend of drugs, engineered to regulate the release duration and dosage over time. Prof Vine-Perrow noted that the goal is to avoid invasive surgeries for implanting the devices, instead utilizing a less invasive gastrointestinal procedure already employed for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and staging.
This month, the team received a grant of half a million dollars to progress toward human clinical trials of ResectAssist. Prof Vine-Perrow expressed enthusiasm about moving into the validation phase, which involves using medical-grade materials and establishing scalable manufacturing processes.
While the primary focus remains on pancreatic cancer, the technology holds promise for treating other malignancies. Prof Vine-Perrow indicated that research in her lab has explored its potential applications for breast and brain cancers. She emphasized the importance of community support, particularly from local organizations like the Illawarra Cancer Carers, in advancing this pivotal project.
This report was initially published in March 2025 and is being highlighted for the duration of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
